What happens when my statutory maternity pay runs out but I'm not due back to work for another 4 months?

Who is eligible? To qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay you must have been: employed by the same employer continuously (some breaks do not interrupt continuous employment) for at least 26 weeks into the 15th week before the week your baby is due; and earning an average of at least £90 a week (before tax) If you can't get Statutory Maternity Pay, (from any of your employers if you have more than one) you may be able to get Maternity Allowance from Jobcentre Plus instead. If you or your partner or civil partner are claiming benefits or tax credits, you may be able to get a Sure Start Maternity Grant. Maternity Allowance Sure Start Maternity Grant How much do you get? Statutory Maternity Pay is paid for a maximum period of 39 weeks. It is paid: at 90 per cent of your average gross weekly earnings with no upper limit for the first six weeks; and for the remaining 33 weeks at either the standard rate of £123.06 or 90 per cent of your average gross weekly earnings (if this 90 per cent rate is less than the standard rate) Statutory Maternity Pay - how it's worked out Opens new window How it's paid Your employer will usually pay you Statutory Maternity Pay in the same way and at the same time as your normal wages. Maternity Pay is treated as normal pay, so your employer will also deduct tax and National Insurance as usual. How and when to claim To claim Statutory Maternity Pay you must tell your employer at least 28 days before the date you want to start your Statutory Maternity Pay. Your employer may need you to tell them in writing. You can change your mind about the date you want to start your Statutory Maternity Pay, but you must still give your employer at least 28 days' notice of the new date So from this it looks like you get smp for 39 weeks if you want to take the full year it will be unpaid leave . edit When did you start getting your smp becauce it starts from then ,so many months before and so many months after the babies born . edit Ok you got some 9 months pay alltogether so if you are taking 1year off of work the remaining 3 months will be unpaid .

Usually you can't get any financial help when your maternity pay ends, it's up to you to fund the remainding 3/4 months. You won't be entitled to either income support or JSA as you officially already have a job. Both of these benefits would require you be unemployed, and for income suppourt you MUST be a signle parent. You will still have ever be able to keep claiming tax credits, both child and working if your entitled and your child benefit. It's obviously gonna be a large dip from what your use to but it's your only option other then going back to work early.