Work whilst on maternity?

Simmo

My wife is due to sart maternity leave in Sept and return to workend of Feb. She only works 2 1/2 days a week. She has just been offered a days work a week in a school (different employer) which would start in October when she will still be claiming maternity benefit. I am assuming this is ok because she is only part time in her main job. Could someone please let me know if this is correct

Jo_R_2

Hi

Unfortunately if someone is in receipt of statutory maternity pay and choose to work for another employer then they cannot receive maternity pay any longer. See http://www.dwp.gov.uk/lifeevent/benefits/statutory_maternity_pay.asp#alreadygetting

I believe this is also the same for maternity allowance - I wasn't sure which one it was as you didn't specify: http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Customers/WorkingAgeBenefits/Dev_008115.xml.html

clairec79

Depends when baby is born, if for example she is only 29 weeks and starting mat leave, she could work for someone else until baby is born. Once baby is born if she goes back to work with ANYONE then mat leave stops

bikerqueen

Not quite true.

If yu take your six months paid, and then six months unpaid, you can work for someone else during the six month unpaid bit, provided your contract allows it, and still have your old position held open for you until the year ends.

asandwhen

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mrcow

clairec79 wrote:

Once baby is born if she goes back to work with ANYONE then mat leave stops

It's not the leave that's affected, just the payment, so she could wait until after the first 26 weeks of payments (when any payments have stopped) and then start the new part time job and keep it going until her original job is due to start again.

clairec79

Sorry, yes you are right I meant pay

Simmo

Thanks for all the advice everybody, it looks unlikely she will be able able to do this work. I was under the the impression that because she currently works part time the new job would be nothing to do with her current employer. The view is then if she is fit to do one job she can do the other. Anyway 6 months off ridiculous, I only get 2 weeks. Thanks again

Jo_R_2

Fortunately the maternity leave and stautory pay is being increased for women from next April (too late for yr wife and for me though - expecting baby any day now!)

The paternity leave is supposed to be being improved as well though the logistics behind it leave a lot to be desired - but in essence the principle is a good one, more leave for fathers, but as long as the mother returns to work before or at the six month mark.

I agree though, 2 weeks for dads is ridiculous! My OH has tagged a week's holiday so he has three paid weeks which is a little better.

Good luck!