Struggling with SPD... sick leave/maternity?

[LolaLoo2]

I'm struggling with work, struggling with just daily activities tbh! I've not experienced pain like it before despite doing all the physio exercises they recommend.

If I was to take sick leave would it force my maternity leave to kick in now?

Depends how many weeks you are

@kitcat15 32 weeks

This happened to me. I took sick leave to 36 weeks and then went on mat leave. I don't think they can force you to go early. It depends on who you work for?

You can take sick leave until 36 weeks, at which point your employer can trigger the start of your maternity leave (although they could choose to keep paying sick pay until your planned maternity leave if they want to).

@HappyAsASandboy ah, I assumed if you were sick anytime in the 11 weeks you can start maternity they force you to take it early. I didn't realise it was until 36 weeks!

Pregnancy related sickness to be precise not just generalised.

Nope. You can choose to start Mat Leave 11 weeks before EWC but they can't make you.

It is all here. Lots of dates and counting forward and backward, so tackle it with a paper, pen and calendar! www.gov.uk/maternity-pay-leave

I know you're well past the dates on which SMP are calculated on, but for any others reading, be careful about going on sick leave mid pregnancy. SMP is based on salary over a very precise period in mid pregnancy, and if you're on SSP during those weeks it can make a massive difference to your maternity pay.