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Original poster

Mat pay advice needed please?

52 replies

Twistedunicorn · 22/12/2025 21:04

I've been sat all day waiting on wages which turns out I'm not even entitled too..

I hadn't realised maternity pay is only for 39 weeks and the remainder is unpaid, since having our baby times have been tough and days/weeks have rolled into one (baby brain doesnt help)

I'm now up shit creek without a paddle 3 days before Christmas and absolutely no idea what to do. Should my work have contacted me and made me aware time was nearly up or should I have contacted them?
We have literally no food and sitting with zero in the bank.

OP posts:
HateThese4Leggedbeasts · 22/12/2025 21:50

It's worth putting your earnings into an online PAYE calculator to double check you haven't paid tax when you shouldn't have too . Probably not likely but it's worth a check.

Original poster
Twistedunicorn · 22/12/2025 21:50

Minty25 · 22/12/2025 21:48

I know our local one is open tomorrow and they are putting out ads for people who need food parcels to get in touch so hopefully your will be too. I work for a different charity and have delivered food to a family in need today. Hope you get some help.

Show quote history

Thanks so much, I'll definitely give them a call tomorrow.

I just had a quick read up about it, it says enough food for 3 days is provided do you know if this includes formula and nappies etc?

OP posts:
Original poster
Twistedunicorn · 22/12/2025 21:52

dementedpixie · 22/12/2025 21:49

Any friends or family that could help out?

None at all, both my parents have passed and sibling contact is zilch.

Asked anyone I could think of and due to time of year everyone's struggling.

OP posts:
AnneElliott · 22/12/2025 21:59

Wha date did you agree you’d return to work? As a pp said you’re entitled to take your accrued leave before you actually physically return to the office. So potentially if you’re going back in early 2026, you could ask your employer to formally re start back now but using up your annual leave - this will mean you’ll go back to full pay.

Mulledjuice · 22/12/2025 22:03

Have you got any Boots/Superdrug/supermarket loyalty points you can redeem for essentials?

Original poster
Twistedunicorn · 22/12/2025 22:06

AnneElliott · 22/12/2025 21:59

Wha date did you agree you’d return to work? As a pp said you’re entitled to take your accrued leave before you actually physically return to the office. So potentially if you’re going back in early 2026, you could ask your employer to formally re start back now but using up your annual leave - this will mean you’ll go back to full pay.

I used annual leave before starting mat leave so not sure I'd have any allowance left, as previously said tho I'm hoping my manager gives me a call tomorrow so can discuss that with him.

OP posts:
Original poster
Twistedunicorn · 22/12/2025 22:07

@Mulledjuice nah I don't have any schemes or anything like that.

OP posts:
FancyCatSlave · 22/12/2025 22:07

What was the original plan @Twistedunicorn for the unpaid weeks? I realise you didn’t think you had got there yet, but what were you intending to do to manage that time from
39 to 52 weeks if you were intending to take the full year? Have you checked there’s no annual leave pay you’ve accrued that you can have?

eg I took 52 weeks maternity leave plus had 7 weeks paid leave to take before I returned. That helped with the unpaid time but I also had savings for the unpaid element.

Sid9nie · 22/12/2025 22:09

You will have accrued more annual leave whilst you were on mat leave.

AnneElliott · 22/12/2025 22:12

Sid9nie · 22/12/2025 22:09

You will have accrued more annual leave whilst you were on mat leave.

Yes this. You will have accrued some more AL over the 39 weeks as you’re still employed.

Original poster
Twistedunicorn · 22/12/2025 22:12

FancyCatSlave · 22/12/2025 22:07

What was the original plan @Twistedunicorn for the unpaid weeks? I realise you didn’t think you had got there yet, but what were you intending to do to manage that time from
39 to 52 weeks if you were intending to take the full year? Have you checked there’s no annual leave pay you’ve accrued that you can have?

eg I took 52 weeks maternity leave plus had 7 weeks paid leave to take before I returned. That helped with the unpaid time but I also had savings for the unpaid element.

To be genuinely honest I cant remember discussing the unpaid part, I hadn't had an easy pregnancy (multiple scares, lost baby a and just constant back n forth to hospital) I was just glad to be finishing up tbh and now as previously mentioned I just hadn't realised time flew and we were at that stage already

OP posts:
Alpacajigsaw · 22/12/2025 22:13

Yeah it’s a bit shit they didn’t tell you. They should have told you when your 52 weeks mat leave would end and it would be good practice for them to have told you that your SMP ended after 39 weeks. Then you could have made a decision about whether to end your mat leave sooner than 52 weeks.

ultimately whether they should have told you or not it doesn’t help you now with your finances does it x

you can go back sooner but your work would be entitled to ask you to give 8 weeks’ notice, maybe ask if they’d let you give shorter notice.

Original poster
Twistedunicorn · 22/12/2025 22:14

Alpacajigsaw · 22/12/2025 22:13

Yeah it’s a bit shit they didn’t tell you. They should have told you when your 52 weeks mat leave would end and it would be good practice for them to have told you that your SMP ended after 39 weeks. Then you could have made a decision about whether to end your mat leave sooner than 52 weeks.

ultimately whether they should have told you or not it doesn’t help you now with your finances does it x

you can go back sooner but your work would be entitled to ask you to give 8 weeks’ notice, maybe ask if they’d let you give shorter notice.

Yeah I've went through all these in my head and like you say they don't help here and now.

As my auld dad used to say I'm up a certain creek without a paddle 💩

OP posts:
Cat1504 · 22/12/2025 22:17

Twistedunicorn · 22/12/2025 21:50

Thanks so much, I'll definitely give them a call tomorrow.

I just had a quick read up about it, it says enough food for 3 days is provided do you know if this includes formula and nappies etc?

Show quote history

Phone your health visitor….our local Hvteam can make referrals to food banks….Salvation Army…baby basket charity’s and other charities …they can get food parcels….electric and gas top ups ( normally 30 quid)…nappies/wipes/formula….baby clothing….basic baby equipment….our health visitor team got loads of cash for kids toys this year and are struggling to find families for them all ( they will do as 2 more working days)….they also got 50 food hampers to give out….ring your team tomorrow …they might have stuff or be able to refer you

Original poster
Twistedunicorn · 22/12/2025 22:21

Thanks for this, I'll definitely give her a ring tomorrow for further advise.

OP posts:
IdreamedAdreamINtimesGONEby · 22/12/2025 22:35

@Twistedunicorn definitely worth asking about KIT days. They aren't mandatory, but if you request to do them then they have to let you. Paid for a day rate per KIT day so a couple a week may keep you going if you only work 20 hours anyway.
Depending on what type of work you do? you may be able to use one / some of the KIT days for mandatory online training etc? So may be something you can do quite quickly.

IdreamedAdreamINtimesGONEby · 22/12/2025 22:36

Also look at anything that might give you a quick bit of cash - paid market research etc. This week I've made £200 from this over 3 different MR projects.

Good luck! Shit situation for you xx

Original poster
Twistedunicorn · 22/12/2025 22:37

@IdreamedAdreamINtimesGONEby love the name BTW 🤣

Yeah I'll definitely ask about them, I wfh have done since covid but still no harm in asking.

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Original poster
Twistedunicorn · 22/12/2025 22:40

IdreamedAdreamINtimesGONEby · 22/12/2025 22:36

Also look at anything that might give you a quick bit of cash - paid market research etc. This week I've made £200 from this over 3 different MR projects.

Good luck! Shit situation for you xx

I never even thought of this, I'll have a look thanks.

If my feet weren't like trotters and I wasn't postpartum I'd be trying fans only 🤣 if you get me pmsl

OP posts:
Thecatspjymas · 22/12/2025 22:41

Depending on when you went on maternity leave you should have a year or so annual leave accrued that your employer could potentially pay you?

Im surprised this wasn’t outlined to you before you left though to be honest

IdreamedAdreamINtimesGONEby · 22/12/2025 22:42

I hear weird feet go down a treat ... maybe that's a career side line for you right now! Haha!

Great if you WFH - pick up a few "cases", say you're going to do a couple of KIT days to catch up with all emails etc (I had 3,000 odd after mat leave so spent a few days going through them) etc etc.

Original poster
Twistedunicorn · 22/12/2025 22:43

Thecatspjymas · 22/12/2025 22:41

Depending on when you went on maternity leave you should have a year or so annual leave accrued that your employer could potentially pay you?

Im surprised this wasn’t outlined to you before you left though to be honest

It was, I took holidays before starting mat leave.

OP posts:
Original poster
Twistedunicorn · 22/12/2025 22:44

IdreamedAdreamINtimesGONEby · 22/12/2025 22:42

I hear weird feet go down a treat ... maybe that's a career side line for you right now! Haha!

Great if you WFH - pick up a few "cases", say you're going to do a couple of KIT days to catch up with all emails etc (I had 3,000 odd after mat leave so spent a few days going through them) etc etc.

Oh if that's the case I'd make a fortune haha.

Just days ago I was saying how excited I was for it being the first Xmas in 7 years I haven't worked n now I'm smacked back down to reality (sigh)

OP posts:
IdreamedAdreamINtimesGONEby · 22/12/2025 22:49

Won't help immediately, but get on Vinted and have a good clear out. Assess gifts and if any that really aren't necessary (if you've over bought stuff for your other child / husband etc) return anything that you can before they're opened etc. Look at club cards / loyalty cards and use any points or vouchers you have on them for shopping for next few weeks.

IdreamedAdreamINtimesGONEby · 22/12/2025 22:51

And just checking that you claim child benefit as well as UC?