Shared Parental Leave - Maternity Allowance & NHS pay

anewloginapparently

Hi all, 

I hope someone can help me regarding shared parental leave as despite spending hours reading about it. It is as clear as mud!

My partner gave birth to our son on 25th November last year. She had been on maternity leave from 9th November - but as she hadn't been with her employer for long enough she didn't qualify for statutory maternity pay and has instead been on maternity allowance. 

She plans to return to work on July 1st - which will be 33 weeks after she went on maternity. 

I plan on then taking shared parental leave. 

Now since I work for the NHS - I believe that I will be paid a further 6 weeks at full pay (having taken 2 weeks paternity allowance initially). My NHS handbook then says I can get up to 18 weeks half pay. However I am not sure if this is correct. 

Would I only be entitled to shared parental leave pay up until the 39 week point (ie the 6 weeks full pay) and then if I was to take a further 11 weeks - that this would have to be unpaid? 

I have asked my HR for an answer but have been waiting a while for them to get back to me. 

poppy12345

My daughter and son in law did this too. She took 28 weeks and then returned to work full time. Her partner then took the remainder of the 39 weeks so was entitled to 11 weeks, taking it to a total of 39 weeks. If he took more then it would be unpaid. I have no idea if it's different for you as you work for the NHS.