Help calculating Maternity Pay

eljapo4

hi - my wife is due baby no.2 on 19th Nov, but she is having a tough time and is currently on sick leave suffering from sciatica. She has asked me to post this question up about her maternity pay.

So far she has been off for 2 weeks and will probably need more sick leave before the baby is due. How does this sick leave affect her maternity pay for the first six weeks if it is calculated at 90 per cent of her average gross weekly earnings?

thanks for your help

skintandscared_2

I believe that maternity pay isn't based on an average wage, it's based on the specific wage during a particular week of the pregnancy (15 weeks before the due date is flashing up in my brain but hopefully someone can confirm or correct that!) So if your wife is on SSP during that particular week, that will determine her maternity pay. If she is working during that week, her maternity pay will be based on her usual weekly wage. Hope that makes sense!

clairec79

It's roughly the average wage between 17 and 25 weeks pregnant (varies as to how often you are paid to the exact dates)

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

QUOTED "To qualify for SMP your average weekly earnings must be at least equal to the lower earnings limit (LEL). The LEL that applies to you is the one which is current on the Saturday at the end of your qualifying week. The LEL changes every year. The LEL is £107 a week in the 2012-13 tax year.
To calculate your average weekly earnings your employer will average your gross earnings over a period of at least eight weeks up to and including the last payday before the end of your qualifying week. The qualifying week is the 15th week before the week your baby is due. This period may vary depending on how often you are paid – weekly, monthly or other intervals.

If you get sick pay, overtime payments, bonus payments, arrears of pay or holiday pay this is all included to work out your SMP, if you actually get them in your set period. It is when you get paid the money that counts, not when it was actually earned"

Linky for you from where i quoted it from - http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/moneytaxandbenefits/benefitstaxcreditsandothersupport/expectingorbringingupchildren/dg_175917

[Deleted User]

I'm assuming Monthly pay here, her average earnings will be based on her last 2 pay packets prior to 6th August 2012, so based on another assumption that she is paid at the end of the month it depends what she was paid June and July? Feel free to post the info and I'll calculate it for you or PM me if you like.

[Deleted User]

Would need Gross pay before tax please.

eljapo4

My wife is paid weekly so she does 35 hrs * 6.08 = £212.80 before tax.

Thanks for the help

[Deleted User]

Ok then during the past 2 weeks when she has been off sick has she received her full pay or SSP only. This is crucial as it is during her qualifying period so any reduction in pay during the 8 weeks prior to 06/08/12 will have a knock on effect on her SMP entitlement.
I am assuming she will only get SMP and no occupational top up?

chrisbur

eljapo4 wrote: »

My wife is paid weekly so she does 35 hrs * 6.08 = £212.80 before tax.

Thanks for the help

I assume that the expected date of confinement is from the MatB1 which gives a qualifying week of 5/8/12 to 11/8/12 so payment will be based on the wage that falls within this period (eg if Friday paid the 10/8/12) and the seven weeks wages before this one.

Handy calculator here....
http://online.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/logicToolStarting?itemId=1096855062&r.i=1096855062&r.l1=1073858808&r.l2=1083106843&r.l3=1083116279&r.l4=1096854943&r.t=BLTTOOL&type=BLTTOOL