Voluntary redundancy on maternity leave

Natbag

All employees in my company are being offered voluntary reduncancy (only a matter of time before it's compulsory I reckon), and I'm currently on 9 months maternity leave - due to go back in August.

I have been an employee for 7 years and have been offered three weeks pay for every year's service - a total of £8,100 (I take it this is more generous than the basic minimum?). We're doing ok with me on maternity pay and this amount would mean I could keep paying myself the same as I'm getting now for about another 14-15 months after my maternity pay runs out.

My husband earns £25,000 before tax, we have two children, one aged four and one aged 2 months, and our mortgage is £600 per month. We currently receive child benefit for both and about £90 child tax credit per month, which is currently double the usual amount because we have a child under one year.

My main questions are:

* if I take voluntary redundancies, what are the disadvantages? Ie, would I not be eligible for certain benefits because I chose to be made redundant?

* what benefits would we be eligible for, if any, and how much roughly?

* they still have to pay the remainder of my statutory maternity pay, right?

I would love more time at home with my son, and I'm sure we'd be fine for another year financially, but after that I'm not sure so need to know what help we would be entitled to (if any) as it's unlikely I'd ever find another job in the same industry and it's the only thing I'm trained/qualified to do.

Also sorry for all the questions on here, I'd go seek advice with the CAB but as they've forgotten about me at home, I only have one day to let them know. :eek:

Natbag

Hmmm tax credits of £180 a month according to the calculator tool I just used - not great but every little helps eh?