Does this mean I only get 26 weeks paid (SMP) maternity leave?

[erised13]

I'm due to go on mat leave this month. My employee handbook says that I get 26 weeks of maternity leave (6 weeks of 90% pay and then SMP after) and then for additional it says "Additional maternity leave starts at the end of the ordinary maternity leave period and ends 26 weeks later. As with ordinary maternity leave, all your terms and conditions of employment are maintained throughout this period with the sole exception of pay."

So does this mean if I want to take more than 6 months mat leave, I won't get anything after that?

In the UK SMP is paid for 39 weeks I would contact HR and ask why their information hasn't been updated? Used to only be 26 but changed years ago.

Send them the link on the gov.uk website.

No, you get at least statutory minimum for 39 weeks. Their handbook is very very out of date. I’m sure whoever does payroll is up to date on statutory rates but do let HR know.

They should also have written to you by now really to confirm all of this, it's pretty late if your due to finish this month.

@stealthmama yes I would have thought so too but I work for a small franchise and I'm pretty sure I'm the first woman to work for them that has been pregnant. Not entirely sure they know what they're doing...

Hi. What they mean by that is that you don't get your full pay, so you are entitled to all your other terms and conditions of employment but not full pay (so SMP if you qualify) There should be a separate section which details the maternity pay entitlement. It says exactly the same wording in my maternity policy :)

SMP is slightly different to mat leave periods - ordinary May peace is 26 weeks and if you return then you should return to your previous job etc. Additional mat leave is the following 26 weeks (which brings it up to a year pretty much) and if you return during/at this point then you are entitled to an equivalent job of no lesser status, benefit or salary.
SMP is different - 6 weeks on 90% pay (or NI limit) and then SMP for the remaining 33 weeks, so 39 weeks paid in total.