What is statutory maternity pay?

How does maternity pay work, and what benefits can you claim.?

• I have always worked and never had anything to do with benefits etc as ive never been on the dole. I have always paid my taxes so I don't know if that will effect anything. My husband and I own our house and have a mortgage, so no council house. I am PAYE and he his self employed. We are looking to have a baby soon, but I really don't know if we can afford it as I would have to take time off work. Please can someone describe to me what I can expect financially?? Thanks

• Answer:

  What you receive will depend on your employment contract and how long you have been working for them. If you have been employed at the same job long enough you will be entitled to Statutory Maternity Pay for up to 39 weeks, if not you may be able to claim Maternity Allowance from the Jobcentre Plus. You will be entitled to take another 13 weeks off work (unpaid), making the total time 52 weeks. Depending on your contract, your employer may pay you Contractual (company) maternity pay (for example I will get 6 months at full pay). If you do not return to your job again, your employer may require you to pay this back to them in part or full. First you need to check your contract or find out from your HR department if they will pay you any company maternity pay, because no one here can tell you that. This is a very helpful website http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Moneyandworkentitlements/WorkAndFamilies/Pregnancyandmaternityrights/DG_10029290 and it has a very useful SMP calculator http://tiger.direct.gov.uk/cgi-bin/maternity.cgi Once the baby arrives you will be entitled to Child Benefit, a £190 'Health in Pregnancy Grant' http://campaigns.direct.gov.uk/money4mum2be/, you MAY also be entitled to Tax Credit, and a Sure Start Maternity Grant. Look here http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/index.htm or the calculator at entitled to.co.uk http://www.entitledto.co.uk/ Hope this helps x