I don’t want to go back to work so soon

[Pinkunicorn26]

My little girl will be 7 months when I go back and I honestly don’t want to miss out on her little milestones, I have to get up at 3:30am for work aswell and I just know I’m going to struggle. I could probably afford to leave but i’m currently on SMP question is, do I have to go back or will I end up having to pay my SMP back?

Did you only receive SMP? If you didn’t receive any enhanced maternity pay then you have nothing to repay, SMP is not repayable. If you got any enhanced pay from your employer then often there is a stipulation that you have to return for X weeks or pay it back but you’d have to check your contract.

Yes it is only SMP I receive, do you think it’s best if I tell them now I don’t want to return so they can stop the payments?

You’re entitled to all your SMP for the full period irrelevant of if you go back or not. So you’re entitled to SMP for 39weeks, which depending on when you started your mat leave is longer than 7months. So they SHOULD NOT stop paying you.

Dont resign. Get all your SMP. You're entitled to it. Give notice later.

Yes, you can tell them your plans have changed verbally but don’t resign in writing. You’ve worked for your SMP so it’s yours.

Statutory Maternity Pay is never repayable — it's a government payment, not a loan from your employer. The only time you'd repay anything is if your employer tops up SMP with enhanced contractual maternity pay and their policy requires you to return for a set period.
You're under no legal obligation to return to work. You can resign during or at the end of maternity leave with your normal notice period. Your employer cannot demand SMP back.
ukworkrights.co.uk has a free maternity rights checker that covers exactly this — no login needed.