How does maternity pay work on consecrcutive maternity leaves?

[CheeseEnforcementAgency]

If you don't go back to work in-between.
Asking for a friend as she is at risk of redundancy if she goes back for the qualifying period as that's when they are doing interviews etc. If she stays off she is guaranteed a job but how does that affected mat pay?

Why is she guaranteed a job? She can be made redundant whilst on maternity leave. However, to answer the question she will be entitled to a new lot of SMP provided she is employed by her current employer in the qualifying week (15 weeks before the due date).

All staff on maternity leave have had a letter stating they will be moved into appropriate jobs but if she goes back earlier than planned( to cover the qualifying period) she will be back during the selection process making herself eligible

How long has she had off. Unless she times the babies right she could have to go back and you could be back for a day or a year the instant you stop mat leave you lose the mat leave protection.

There are two qualifying requirements for SMP. One is continuous employment, and she will need to still be employed by the same employer by 15 weeks before her due date.

The other is about earnings, she needs to be earning enough during the qualifying period of weeks 17 - 25 of her pregnancy. For most people if they don't go back to work in between, they wouldn't be entitled to SMP as they wouldn't have earned anything/enough during the appropriate qualifying period.

If her employer offers more than SMP she will need to check their terms and conditions to see if she would be entitled to their maternity pay if she doesn't come back in between.

Baby 2 due 1 year two weeks after baby 1 so could run leave into each other