Occupational/Statutory Maternity Pay

[hancharu]

Hi all,

I'm having a seriously hard time finding out from my employer whether I'm able to combine the occupational maternity pay with statutory pay, ie: when I go down to half pay, can I top this up with the statutory pay?
Does anybody have any experience with this?

Many thanks

It depends entirely on the wording of their policy. Some pay OMP in addition to SMP, which would normally be specifically stated in the policy. Most will ‘top up’ any SMP element to the specified OMP levels.

But you can receive both at the same time?

They should confirm payments when you go on ml. Tbh it is probably best to assume smp is within the half pay.

You can, but it's the employer's choice - they are perfectly within their rights to include SMP in any occupational provision, and most do just that. As I say, normally if occupational is in addition to SMP it would say so specifically.

What does the policy say?

SMP isn’t a separate thing you can go and claim yourself, your employer will be claiming it back from the government. It’s possible, as flowery says, that you have something contractual to say they will pay you half pay AND SMP. Otherwise though, you’re not saying ‘can I have what you were going to pay anyway, plus this free money from the government?’ you’re asking for more pay.

Brilliant, thanks all. I'm very anxious about making the pay work (first time Mum) and how I'll manage it all.