Mat leave and temporary contract

[ThePartyArtist]

I'm on a contract which will end March 2016. This is due to the funding for it - it is my understanding that that's the finish date (as opposed to 'it's an 18 month contract).

I am not pregnant but considering it (seriously broody!!) However I need to ensure it's sensible with regards to leave as I am the main earner.

The job ends 15 months from now. If I started maternity leave when I had (for example) five months of the job left, would the job be 'paused' so I could take full mat pay and return to complete the final 5 months of the job after that?

OR would the job end in March 2016 regardless of how much mat leave I'd completed by then (i.e. only get 5 months' mat pay then have no job to return to)?

If the latter I think I'll need to put this on hold. I may well have another temporary contract after this (possibly one without continuous service).

Hope I have explained this clearly!

Bit of both.

If the funding/contract ends in March 2016 that doesn't change just because the person fulfilling the contract has gone on maternity leave. Additional funding doesn't have to be made available to allow the employer to extend the contract. Depending on what you are doing, presumably the need to do it doesn't go away or stop because you are not there anyway?

In terms of maternity pay, it doesn't stop when employment ends, or at least statutory maternity pay doesn't. If you meet the services and income related eligibility requirements for SMP you get the full 33 weeks, even if your employment ends before you've even started receiving it.

Thanks Flowery.

You're right, if I wasn't here the need to do the project wouldn't stop. The organisation could get someone in to cover me and end the project March 2016 as planned.

This would mean although I may be eligible for SMP for the full 33 weeks, however I'd have nothing to return to afterwards wouldn't it...

Yes you wouldn't have a job to return to, and would be in the same position as you'd have been in had you stayed at work - ie your employment ending March 2016 and having to find something else.

gah.... better put the broodiness on hold a bit longer then :o(

I think your problem is that you don't know when, or if you'll fall pregnant. You will get your full maternity pay though, so what is the main issue for you? Is it the not having a job to come back to? the gap on your CV?
If these things are important to you can you start looking for a permanent job now? If the job is more important to you than having a baby at this stage then hold of TTC but I guess you need to decide what's more important.