Not returning to work and paying back extra maternity pay

[Hertschick]

Hiya - I am thinking about not returning to work for a Local Authority as my request for flexible working has been refused. I received extra pay over and above SMP and am waiting to hear back how much I would have to repay if I don't return for 6 mths as per my contract. We will struggle to pay the whole amount back at one as this would be around 9k and just wondered if anyone had any experience of paying the amount back in instalments and what amounts may be offered/interest on the total amount. Was thinking of offering £100 per month.
Thanks

Hi - I did this but had to pay the whole lot back in one go no interest. just the actual lump sum)

You don't have to pack back the SMP element, just the extra part. Do you really have to do 6m to 'pay it back'? NHS was 13 weeks.

This is the same as my workplace. Has to be paid back in one lump sum minus the SMP. Have they given you good reason to refuse your flexible working request?

A repayment plan lasting 7.5 years is unlikely to be accepted. It would normally be about the same amount of time it took for the overpayment to accrue. Are you sure you would owe as much as £9k?

Yes unfortunately i have to return for 6 months and think it will be 8k/9k odd - they told me 11k until i pointed out that this was the gross figure of my extra pay and shouldn't include tax or national insurance so waiting for their revised figure. Genuinely thought I would want to return to work and therefore stupidly dudn't just save the extra money in case we had to pay it back.

Might be worth seeing if you can come to an agreement with them - I moved house so couldn't return to my previous NHS post and nothing suitable came up in my new area. I should have returned for a minimum of 3 months but I pointed out that by the time I had taken the 6 weeks leave accrued during my maternity leave, plus the annual leave and bank holidays I would accrue in the 3 months, they would pay me 3 months salary for 20 days work. I suggested that we 'called it quits' - I would not claim for payment in leiu of the 6 weeks leave owed in return for not having to pay back my OMP. It worked out financially better for them do they accepted. I was lucky to have a great manager who knew that a move was on the cards (although we hadn't sold our house at the point I started my leave) and I kept her informed throughout. They were also trying to reduce the workforce so it made sense to them - us a LA not under the same pressures? Might be worth a try?