when to give notice for maternity leave

[ai38]

The government website says we need to inform our employer at least 15 weeks before the baby is expected. Now my question is if it is 15 weeks from the due date based on LMP/Ultrasound? or if I am already given a date for c-section by the hospital I should consider that as my due date? In my case my actual due date based on the ultrasound/LMP is 10 days later than the date my c-section is (tentatively) booked.

It will be the due date given on your MatB1 form that you will get after you are 20 weeks pregnant

@dementedpixie do I have to apply for this form or will it be given/sent to me after 20 weeks? I am 21+3 and won't have my next midwife appointment until end of the month.

You could try contacting your midwife. They may tell you that you'll get it at your next appointment

It’s your expected due date. Your matb1 form will need to be sent to your employer so they can calculate your maternity pay. This should be sent by the time you are 25 weeks pregnant, but my trust I don’t get it until 24 weeks pregnant so pretty much have to get it sent straight off. If you’re late getting it though it’s not the end of the world, just let your employer know

They don't need the MatB1 by week 25 but they do need you to have informed them of the pregnancy and when you want leave to start by then. I would inform them in writing

You’ll have been given your “official” due date at your 12 week scan and this is the date that will be on your MatB1 certificate, but you don’t get given your MatB1 until after your 20 week scan.

You always use the due date given to you at your 12 weeks scan even when you have a confirmed c section date. I got my matb1 form at my 24 week midwife appointment.

Hi,
I wasn’t aware that you could claim SMP from both jobs. I’m a nurse that does bank alongside my full time job. As i had only just realised I have gone past the 15 week point of informing my bank employer for SMP. Where do I stand with this will I just use out now completely on the extra or does it depend on the employer?

@Gabsb97 you need to check the contract for bank shifts. As far as I am aware if you are contacted FT in another role then you wouldn't meet qualifying criteria of smp from bank, only if it was listed as your 'main' employer therefore your primary tax code/allowance was on bank pay.
Plus in some cases bank/agency don't provide SMP you would actually qualify for maternity allowance instead which is a totally different kettle of fish.

From what I read on gov you have to earn about 123 a month and pay NI and tax on these earnings which i do. Just feel abit bummed out that I didn’t inform them sooner 🫣

She wouldn't get maternity allowance from one employer if she was getting SMP from the other.

@Gabsb97 would you have earned at least £123 each week in weeks 17-25 of pregnancy in your bank job? Speak to your employer if that is the case.

@Gabsb97 understandable, but like I said you'd need to check the bank contract/maternity policy. I've worked both contract and bank together and that wasn't the case for me. I suspect its more likely if you have a PT role and top up on bank rather than FT and bank. Otherwise almost every nurse would be putting in one shift a month extra on bank (though most of us already are) to get the extra pay out.

@Gabsb97 how pregnant are you?
Speak to your employer anyway if you meet the qualifying criteria

Check the gov website for further guidance.

If a person is working 2 jobs and claim sick pay they can be paid by both and SMP is another statutory pay so worth looking into.

It's checking if you meet the qualifying conditions.

Consider contacting a maternity organisation/charity to find out your rights

I used to 2 bank shifts per week as I do long days on my full time role.. xx

I am 32 weeks so only have 2 months to go, it’s not to much of an issue if I don’t as obviously I’ll get it from my main job. I meet all the conditions apart from submitting it before 25 weeks 🫣 purely because I didn’t think you could do both! Xx

Hey! Yeah I would have done, but I just didn’t submit it before the 25 weeks :( and I’m now 32 weeeks! Bummed right out x

@Gabsb97 I'd still do the claim/advise them you are pregnant and when you want leave to start. They Will need to see your MatB1 for maternity pay purposes which needs to be done within 21 days of your SMP starting.

OP, make sure you have family legal insurance before you tell your employer.

Hopefully they are lovely but 25% of them aren't. Family legal insurance will cover any employment disputes including unfair dismissal. Mine cost £15 and saved me £60,000 in lost salary and legal cots. Better to be safe than sorry.

And congratulations.

yeah sent that off today, I’ll see what they say they might do it they might not.. x

Didn’t even know family legal insurance was a thing, im not sure if be able to take it out now? X