Please help with SMP query xx

[Orangeroses243]

I am employed and am just working out how much I will receive. It's confusing me to begun with but then I also cam across a Maternity allowance claim form on gov website. - as I am still working with my company (I am starting maternity in a few weeks) I have handed over my matb1 to accounts I am assuming they fill out such forms and sort this out??
First pregnancy and I have no idea whatsoever.
Thanks

When did you start your job OP? And when is your due date?

Your HR department should give you a full breakdown of what you’ll get, mine sent me this when I notified them of my maternity leave start date.

Assuming you’re eligible for SMP from your employer, they will sort it out for you. Maternity allowance is for claiming if you’re not eligible for SMP, for example if you’re self employed. Have you not had a letter from HR confirming your maternity leave dates and what pay you’ll get?

stat maternity pay is currently £184.03 per week if that helps. Your work should be able to give you a breakdown as per the company policy though (if they offer some sort of MAT pay prior to going across to stat)

As long as you earn over £123 / week, and have been in the same job for over 28 weeks, you'll get SMP so can ignore the maternity allowance (if you don't qualify for SMP, your workplace should tell you).

For the first 6 weeks, you get 90% of your current pay, then it drop to £184 (or 90% of pay if less)

@Mrsttcno1 3 years ago and due end of December x

@Sandandsea123 I am actually going to ask for this thanks.

@Peonies12 ahh well explained. I am definitely eligible I've been full-time with them over 3 years x

@Sprogonthetyne excellent this has helped me this is exactly what I am. It's SMP not the allowance.
With the SMP amounts you stated do you know if I will be taxed on this? TIA

Yes, it's treated as income so taxable, NI, subject to the current thresholds.

You should also get the first 6 weeks at 90% pay, then the standard rate of £184 for the remaining 33 weeks. Unless your company has an enhanced maternity scheme.
So for example my workplace will be paying 90% of my wage for the first 3 months then it will go into Standard rate.
I'm also taking a full year (also due December) but will use my 5 weeks accrued holiday entitlement to help once my maternity leave pay ends and then the rest will be unpaid and will use savings.
But yes, it's all taxable: which is a joke. Unfortunately x

@Lunamoon23 @JumpstartMondays
Thanks for advising this has helped.
So mine will be just the first 6 weeks at 90% as work do not have a maternity scheme.
I didn't realise you could use that holiday pay prior to the leave finishing so could use this the last month of the year to help with it being 2 months with no pay instead of the full 3 as I am taking a year too.

Madness that Tax and NI apply on such a small amount. I have always worked full time in a good Job and understand Tax and Ni and pay regularly into a pension scheme for myself too. I just think the small amount paid for Maternity after many years of working hard then to be taxed on that too 🤯..... As above its a shame my work place doesn't have a scheme as this would of course help.
Anyway thought on that gone and Moan over! 😆 - I have a hard working partner it's our first baby and are so excited and will work things out and budget as everyone else in similar shoes does. 🙂 we just can't wait for our arrival ☺️
Congratulations to you and your baby due in December too @Lunamoon23 .

Yes you absolutely can, your rights continue while on maternity leave just as they would if you were still working. Also look into 'KIT' days and see if it's something your employer supports. That can also help bump pay a little.
But yeah I'm with you in regards to mat leave/tax etc, although on that amount it will be minimal. At a time like this you need all the extra pennies you can get. Make sure you also apply for your child benefit, again not much but nearly an extra £100 pm. Every little bit helps with the cost of living constantly rising.

And thank you! The countdown is on and we're also very excited! Nervous but excited! X

Just to be clear, maternity pay counts as taxable pay, but in the months when you only get the basic flat rate that is unlikely to be more than the tax free allowance for the month so will be no tax deducted. May be a little NI as the threshold is lower, but very little.

Your maternity pay will go through your payroll and you will get a payslip as normal so your employer will do all the calculations.