Statutory Maternity Pay

jimbobmagee

Hi. I wonder if you anyone can help?

Me and My wife gave birth to our daughter October last year. My wife decided to take a full year of maternity with her school, being a teacher.

Unfortunately we didn't really calculate what we would get back very well, as we thought Maternity pay covered for the full 12 months but realised after 39 weeks it didn't!

My wife has tried to talk to her school about KIT days but they aren't being very helpful. I suggested I take up an extra job in the evenings, but my wife didn't want me to work full time and evenings, meaning I miss valuable time with my daughter. So she's applied to be a 'secret shopper' and also my sister in law works is a carer and they need some extra help. But she read somewhere that if she took extra income then she'd have to pay some SMP back? Is this the case after 39 weeks or not?

Cheers

James

sheramber

Can she can she not just go back to teaching?

Savvy_Sue

KIT days would be limited to 10, and there has to be something in it for the school, not just because she wants them.

I think SMP would stop if she took up other work, not so sure she'd have to repay anything once she's not receiving any money. But the information will be online, or consult the Maternity Alliance or similar.

jimbobmagee

sheramber said:

Can she can she not just go back to teaching?

I dont know if you know many teachers, but the job itself is very full on. Prior to getting pregnant and working full time, she would be doing almost 12 hour days. Usually working after school hours planning and marking children's work. She was thinking of going back early. But the issue being that she still hasn't had the conversation with the school with regards to how many days they will allow her to each week (she has tried to contact, and they have been informed since May this year that she will be going back in October at their request) She's also worried that the school will turn around and tell her she has to work full time and won't offer a part time position - this was something that was offered to another teacher that has recently come back from Maternity. With the jobs I have mentioned she can do a couple of hours ever the evening, when I am home etc, to help us out until October.

jimbobmagee

Savvy_Sue said:

KIT days would be limited to 10, and there has to be something in it for the school, not just because she wants them.

I think SMP would stop if she took up other work, not so sure she'd have to repay anything once she's not receiving any money. But the information will be online, or consult the Maternity Alliance or similar.

Ok Thanks. We have had no SMP since June. So would assume if she takes a second job for a couple of months then this will have no affect.

Savvy_Sue

jimbobmagee said:

Savvy_Sue said:

KIT days would be limited to 10, and there has to be something in it for the school, not just because she wants them.

I think SMP would stop if she took up other work, not so sure she'd have to repay anything once she's not receiving any money. But the information will be online, or consult the Maternity Alliance or similar.

Ok Thanks. We have had no SMP since June. So would assume if she takes a second job for a couple of months then this will have no affect.

Assume nothing: CHECK! 

https://maternityaction.org.uk/ this is the site I was thinking of, they have changed their name since I last went there ...