NHS Maternity Pay 🤯

[Newlyttc]

Hi everyone,

I’m hoping to spread my maternity over 12 months and wanting to have an idea of my income so just trying to work everything out, however, NHS maternity is sooo confusing!! (yes I’ve emailed payroll but still waiting to hear back)

the policy states -
• 8 weeks at full pay (based on
average weekly earnings)
• 18 weeks at half pay plus SMP
(not exceeding full pay)
• 13 weeks at SMP (the lesser of
the standard rate or 90% of
average weekly earnings)
• 13 weeks unpaid

i don’t understand the second one,
so if half my weekly pay plus SMP exceeds my full weekly pay am I not entitled to any SMP at all for those 18 weeks?

So if half + smp is more than your full weekly wage you'll only get whatever takes you up to full weekly wage - it won't go over your usual weekly wage.

Your SMP will be rolled into it. They aren't going to pay you more than you would get being in work! So you will get half normal pay plus statutory up to your usual weekly pay. They will pay less weekly pay and full statutory in my experience. They get most of SMP paid back by the government.

@OhhhhhhhhBiscuits @Sara1988 ahh okay thank you! So if that’s the case technically it is 26 weeks full pay?

Yes! Pretty good. I'm a teacher and we get 6 weeks full pay 😫

Well only if half your pay & smp = your full wage, which for most people it doesn't

With my trust , you can do equal pay over how long you want off . See pic for an example of this

Pic didn’t attach to above message

Thank you! Is this after tax or before?

Unless you're bad with money and saving, don't spread it over 12 months. Take it as it comes and put it in a high interest savings account (an easy access one). Lots that are between 4.5-5% at the moment.

Let it earn you some nappy money.

It’s before tax

Thank you for sharing!

Which weeks/ months do they calculate this on? I've been told it's certain earnings in weeks but then based around monthly pay?

Your NHS maternity pay is calculated on the basis of your average weekly earnings for the 8 weeks ending with the qualifying week, which is the 15th week before your expected week of childbirth

@excitedmama2be do you mind me asking what band your are? I’m trying to work my maternity pay out but not quite far enough for payroll to give me a breakdown of payments.

Top band 5

Thank you so much that’s really helpful.