Making Maternity Pay Last... Any tips?

[heylottie]

Hello all
I am exactly half way through my pregnancy with baby due start of October, yay me.

But am starting to wake up at night, not only to wee, but also thinking about how I can stretch my 6 weeks work maternity pay and the SMP for as long as possible.

I suspect the key is that you maybe spend much less on life than you expect when you have the baby. Or you get into debt. Or you end up going back to work earlier than you would like.

Ideally I would like 6 months off. This is likely to be my only child and I have waited a long time for him/her to come along. My DP earns very little- I am the main breadwinner.

Basically, has anyone got any tips - like stocking up on things now? Or things they wish they had accounted for but hadn't?

Or- even better - will I just not care once the baby is here and all the debt will be worth it???

Hi, I am a first time mum and need some clarification on maternity leave/pay.
If you company only offers Statuary Pay do you still get that and your salary on top? And how long is maternity leave?
How is maternity pay calculated?
Once you had your MATB1 form in how long does it take your employer to get back to you with the information?

Many thanks
Manni

Manni probably worth starting your own thread - this is an old thread!

If your company only offers stautory maternity pay thats all you get, you don't get your salary as well.

You can take up to a year off, but last 3 months are unpaid. Think 1st 6 weeks is a bit more than smp