New Maternity Leave regulations - confused by conflicting info on web, anyone help?

[Piffy]

Hi there

Been trying to find out what I am likely to be entitled to, as we need to start planning/saving for new DC due in November, but there is much conflicting info on the web. I remember seeing that new regulations meant 39 weeks on SMP rather than 26 weeks, followed by 26 weeks AML. However all the sites I can find now say only 26 weeks on SMP and 26 weeks on AML - just like before, surely? Have the new regulations that were proposed been watered down, or am i missing something?

Any advice welcome, my head is spinning!

Pxx

have a look here

It's 52 weeks SMP (as opposed to 26 +26) if baby due after 1/4/07

Not quite true.

It's 26 OML & 26 AML, but 39 weeks paid. So total leave of 52 weeks.

Er what's OML? AML?
I knwo SMP is standard maternity pay but i don't understand the others. (Am due in July and know i am entitled to 39 weeks) Are the first 6 weeks still at 90% of pay and remainder at SMP?

Not quite true.

It's 26 OML & 26 AML, but 39 weeks paid. So total leave of 52 weeks. So 39 weeks SMP

Sorry, Ordinary Maternity Leave & Additional Maternity leave.

Yes, rates are 90% for first 6 weeks, and £110 or 90%(whichever lower) for 33 weeks.

Difference between OML and AML, is that you have right to return to same job after OML, but only have a right to return to a similar job after AML

Just discovered you pay national insurance and tax on SMP! I thought it would come under the tax bracket for personal allowance though?

Only if it is your only income for the year, otherwise your personal allowance will have been used up by your wages before hand, so to speak. You will get at least £3630 mat pay for the last 33 weeks plus your 90% for 6 weeks at the beginning, which will take you over the personal allowance of £5030, so will be liable for NI and Tax. Interestingly, Maternity Allowance isn't taxed, etc, although rate is same as SMP.

Thanks for all the messages! Last time I got a generous contractual maternity leave but the company haven't updated their policy to take account of post-April babies - very lax! Probably because I work for very male dominated company and maternity leave is pretty rare! I suspect that it will be much the same as before though they will have to offer the full 39 weeks at SMP.

I have heard that some employers are offering bonuses to mums who return after OML, anyone know if this is actually legal? I am tempted to return after 26 weeks as this is what I did with DS and it worked well. However if I can get a bonus out of it, all the better!