Mat B1 form and letter, have I left it too late?

[DebitheScot]

I completely forgot about finding out when I have to officially give notice about when I am leaving work and now I'm having a bit of a panic.

I am 29 weeks pg, due on 3rd Sept and plan to start my maternity leave 10 weeks on Sunday (I'm a teacher so it's starting at the end of the holidays, that's how I can go so close to due date) which is 31st Aug.
I don't know if it's normal for it to start on a Sunday but that's what I was told is the case here.

According to a book I have I have to give 10 weeks notice of when I plan to start but the hmrc website says 15 weeks. So is there anything I can do if they kick up a fuss about me being late handing in my letter saying I'm going?

Also, do I have to give the Mat B1 form in at the same time? I haven't got it yet as I forgot to ask for it at my midwife appointment yest and they never asked me about it. Also even if they had given me it yesterday it'd still be less than the 15 weeks. I should be able to get the form by the end of the week as I phoned the surgery this morning about it but I'm worried the hr man is going to tell me off now when I go to see him in a bit.

Debithescot - As far as I remember I handed my MAT B1 in after my notice and all was fine!

I'm sure your notice is 10 weeks - trying to remember when I did mine - think it was during October half term when my due date was 10th Jan, but like you I finished when we broke up for Christmas but my maternity leave didn't start till they went back on the 3rd.

Don't know if things are different in Scotland, but both times I got the feeling that as long as my head knew and had therefore been able to start advertising for cover then it wasn't a problem. Think my head had advertised for cover long before I gave notice!

Good luck with HR man - clutch your bump and look teary if he dares to give you grief!

Thanks. I haven't been able to see him yet but have a free period later so will find him then.
I'm not actually in Scotland, I'm in England but I think it's the same everywhere anyway.

i'm sure you will be fine.

also, fwiw, i worked up to the day before my ds arrived and there wereno problems.

have you mentioned your pg at all?

Debi I didn't hand mine in until around 25 weeks and have just been asked (29 weeks) to fill out the form I should have sent it in with (doh!) so I think you should be OK. BTW I had to ask the midwife to give me the form - it wasn't handed over automatically.

Debi - I let them know informally a couple of weeks ago (though everyone actually in my office knew months ago due to ENORMOUS bump!!!!), I won't even have my Mat B1 for a few weeks and they've said that can wait. I wouldn't worry, I'm sure it'll be fine.

They know I'm pg (would have a job hiding it) and know when I'm going, it's just I hadn't told them officially.

you'll be fine then.

i didn't even know i was pg until 21 weeks and didn't mention anything at work till i was 24weeks

(no bump till about week 37!! )

and there was still plenty of time for paperwork