Do you have to pay back maternity pay if you decide not to go back?

[cosima]

Teachers, - if you decided you didn't want to go back would you have to pay back any money? what is the minimum amount of time you would have to go back for so as not to pay any back?

It has to be stated in the policy up front if any enhanced pay is conditional on return and for how long.

What LIZS said. You need to check your policy cosima. Often you have to pay back anything over and above statutory if you don't go back for 3 months - that's quite common, but you must have been made aware beforehand.

Ooh and just to add as some people don't realise this - no one can take back your SMP. Once you've met the conditions for it you can even leave employment before you have the baby and still receive it, so it's only if you get anything extra that there's an issue.

thanks all, I am going back this time, just thinking about the next one, whether to move house, just making my next plans

You sound v organised!

not really, just lazy and workshy,