How long off for maternity

Following as in the same position

We have applied for universal credit while I am on SMP and we are eligible.there are benefit calculators online you can use to see if you are eligible (and what you could potentially get) before applying.

Yes, that's the maximum you can take so you can go back sooner, you just need to arrange it with your manager/HR (depending on your business), some prefer you to take the full allowance to go back and be back. Also don't forget you can use any accrued annual leave added on if you get it approved or use it to phase in PT until childcare is established etc :) (with approval obviously)

I’m only having 39 weeks off as that’s all that is paid. It’s totally up to you when you want to return to work, just let your employer know the date you intend on returning

For the last three months I used up my accrued annual leave and phased return period and that took me about 3 months. So was only working couple hours each day during the phased return period. When using annual leave I would reduce my working week down to just one or two days, maybe this is something you can do if possible

Yes you can go back sooner, you can go back whenever you want (after 2 weeks). Does your employer offer to spread your Omp? Mine does, so I won't have an unpaid section, they'll average it out across the whole mat leave so I never have to have a big drop in pay, it will just be slightly lower the whole time

Not only do you accrue annual leave, but also any bank holidays while you are off so it does add up to quite a bit! I'm in the same boat as you so will be using most of my accrued annual leave during that unpaid period, then returning to work a little bit early but using any extra AL accrual towards working part time without a drop in salary to ease me into things. For example, I start maternity leave in October, will end maternity leave 9 months from that date, have 1 month of AL and then work 4 days a week (while receiving full time pay) until my accrual has run out (should be around 10-15 weeks I think!)

Can you use 80% of your full salary for the 26 weeks and then use the 20% you don’t spend for some more of the unpaid weeks? I’d see if you can survive off less than full pay for the 26 weeks so that you can top up the unpaid weeks, so you get more time at home with baby

You can have 10 kit days which could help in those last few months, my employer is actually paying me my accrued holiday for the year as a one off payment so we will make that last as well.. I would double check on benefit calculators but I think when I did it I was only entitled to around £15 a week because of my husbands wage x

@Kelly-Lou I have a feeling annual leave at the end will be an issue Iv been denied my 2 weeks I have left before due to staffing so reckon be same at the other side

They cannot stop you using your accrued annual leave after maternity. It's illegal

@Charley we can only have 2 people off at one time

Sorry to hear that, I think there's a window you have to use it by (varies by company), if approved you could though. But if you don't use it joint, you'll have to use it at some point - it's a shame!

It doesn't matter how many people you're allowed off at once, you are entitled to take all of your accrued leave and bank holidays. It makes sense for the business to allow you to take this tacked on the end of your mat leave. If not, you're still entitled to use all of it. If they can't allow the time off due to only having 2 people off at once, you could be paid for the time instead (but I don't know the legalities of that, just a suggestion)

I work in HR. You can stop maternity leave whenever u want to so can take full 1 year or just 2 weeks if u want. All you have to do is give your employer 8 weeks notice in writing to say when u are returning to work. In terms of help with unpaid period. As you are technically employed you probably would not be eligible for any benefits but always work a check with gov. What ever u do don't forget your holiday. You still get holiday for all your maternity leave so should have nearly a year of unused holiday, you can stop maternity leave and swap it for paid holiday or ask ur employer if you can start back easy, work 2-3 days take the rest as holiday to use ur entitlements and help ease u back into work.

In terms of holidays rules (2 people at once) talk to ur boss, if uve been off for 9ms they have managed and will want you to take your built up holiday before going back properly or you could end up with nearly 6 weeks holiday to take in 3months. Most employers want mums to take their holiday b4 they come back properly.