NHS maternity pay - continuous service

[Lbdp]

I've just found out I'm pregnant via IVF and started a new job in the NHS back in August. It's just dawned on me that I'll be just outside of the NHS mat pay requirements by like a week (you have to have worked for 12 months by the 11th week before your due date).

My question is I worked for the NHS from 2011-2019 and as part of the policy it says if you have 12 months of continuous NHS employment by the 11th week before due date you are also eligible. So technically I have well over 12 months of continuous service, but I had a 2.5 year break in NHS employment.

Trying to speak to someone in HR to find out but thought I'd ask to see if anyone else has been in a similar boat!

Unfortunately in my trust to qualify for maternity pay you have to have 12 months continuous service in the period of time you are pregnant not any time before, as you have broken your service the previous NHS employment will not count in my experience. I did not get my full maternity pay with my first as I had only started my job in the September and was due in June however have since had another child and have been granted it and same with the one I'm now pregnant with. In my experience I was coming away with just over £500 per month in the year I didn't qualify for full maternity pay. Xx

Thanks @2littleloves! That's really useful to hear your experience. I think I knew deep down that would be the case, but was remaining hopeful that it wasn't. We will manage without, just very annoying. I completely understand why the policy is the way it is.

Hey @Lbdp , do you have an update at all? I have a similar question! X

Hi @Ellswells3 , I spoke to someone in HR and they said the ultimate decision is with payroll but they'll put a case forward that as I have 7 previous years with the NHS already and that I'm a week off the cut off point that I should be eligible. Fingers crossed 🤞🤞🤞. I'll be submitting my Mat b1 form next month so will hear then if I'm going to receive it or not.

@Lbdp fingers crossed for you! It sounds like you have a strong case xx

@Ellswells3 Thank you! @Ellswells3

Oops, posted before I'd finished typing. I was going to ask if you'd spoken to you HR team yet? How close are you to the cut off?

@Lbdp what was your outcome? Were you able to get the NHS mat pay rather than SMP?

@HappyAsASandboy I'll know once I submit my mat b1 form at the start of June. So just got to wait and hope until then!

Fingers crossed for you!

They look at your continuous service in the NHS overall not just where you are now for Occ Maternity Pay and then the qualifying period is to determine whether you qualify for SMP from the employer or Mat pay from DWP. If your break in the NHS had been 12 months or under you would have qualified for Occ Maternity Pay. All the info is on NHS employers OP.

@Lbdp Hey! Sorry no I’m currently TTC but have just realised that if I am lucky enough to fall this cycle, that I will be out of the window for the OMP by like one day.
To be entitled to the OMP I need to have 12 months continuous on the 14.11.22 but my 12 month anniversary is 15.11.22. So it’s like 1 day out! I may not fall, but if I do the OMP would be very much needed!