Entitlement to maternity leave - stupid question

[spekulatius]

I've started a new job this month but also planning on DC2. I work in the NHS. I just want to be really sure that I'm entitled to full maternity pay (not just statutory pay ). The policy says

Staff with more than 26 weeks continous service by the eleventh week before the expected date of delivery are entitled to a total of 52 weeks maternity pay.

So that means I have to have worked there at least 26 weeks before being 29 weeks pregnant (11 weeks before EDD)? So I can be pregnant when starting? I'm confused, didn't think that was true, thought you had to wait quite a while before getting pregnant. Does anyone know?

Sorry! The policy says "are entitled to 52 weeks of maternity leave" not pay

Also you'd want to check what amount of maternity pay for how long... It should be quite clear from reading the policy?

52 weeks of leave is your statutory right, I think, after that time period. It's unrelated to full pay vs statutory - that must be elsewhere in the policy.

I think you get smp if you've been there over a certain period of time. If you haven't been there that long you can claim maternity allowance from the government. It's the same amount just a different mechanism of claiming it.

I think it's to do with companies being able to claim the smp back.

With maternity allowance, you don't get the first six weeks at 90% of pay though, it's £136 per week throughout.

Yes sorry wasn't reading properly. After working in the NHS for 12 months when 11 weeks before EDD entitled to 8 weeks full pay and then 18 weeks at half pay plus smp. To be entitled to smp must have worked for this trust 26 weeks at 15th week before EDD. Why don't they just say when 25 weeks pregnant? So after working there for a week I can get full maternity pay? I mean 8 weeks full pay and 18 weeks half pay plus smp.

No I don't think it says that. I think it says if you have worked for 12 months by the time you are 29 weeks pg then you get enahanced pay, if you have only worked for 26 weeks when you are 25 weeks pg you just get SMP.

They have to reference Edd as that is on the mat b1 form from the midwife.

Then the earliest I can get preg would be 26 weeks after start date, wouldn't it. Then I would get the most mat pay.

No, if you get pg 1 wks after starting, you will just be entitled to SMP.
To get the enhanced mat pay, you need to have been working there at least 6 months (ish) before you get pg, to ensure you have the required 12 months service by 11wks before EDD (ie by 29 wks pg).