Pregnant - what happens now?

cheltenhamgirl

This might not be the right place for me to post this, but if not I'm sure you lovely people will tell me where I'm better off posting it.

I've just found out I'm pregnant (not planned at all - very scary!)

My question basically is can anyone tell me what maternity pay is? And things like tax credits and child benefit....do those start from day baby is born?

Currently OH earns about £24.5k and I earn £30k (very roughly as I get commission)

Obviously my wages would stop, although I'm trying to find out if I would still get my commission whilst I'm on maternity leave (it generally gets paid about 4/5months after I've done the deal, so even when I'm not working, should still get commission from previous deals? - anybody know anything about that? Would it affect standard maternity pay?)


Sorry, that doesn't make much sense, but anybody who manages to make sense of it, I would really appreciate your thoughts!

xx

hooby_groovy

Obviously my wages would stop, although I'm trying to find out if I would still get my commission whilst I'm on maternity leave (it generally gets paid about 4/5months after I've done the deal, so even when I'm not working, should still get commission from previous deals? - anybody know anything about that? Would it affect standard maternity pay?)

Commission depends on your contract, but on the basis that your employer wants you to return then I would be confident that you would get paid for any sales you make while still at work.

debrag

you should get a set number of months on full pay then another set number of months on less (I think half pay) pay then you get the government stuff.

Someone I work with has just gone on her's and is off for a year.

Skint_Catt

I thought you got 6months on half pay then the following 6m is optional without pay (IIRC).

Child benefit kicks in when the child is born - was £40 a month but is probably more than that now (for first child).

You don't have to tell your employer whether you will return to work or not until the final month (either month 5 or 11).

RoxieW

Hi hon- I posted on your other thread - welcome!

Re, maternity pay, I'm not sure. I'm sure if you googled it you'd find all the info that you needed.

With regards to tax credits and child ben, yes it gets paid (normally) from birth. Child benefit is around £16 per week for first child. I find the tool on the tax credits website 'do i qualify' really good as it allows you to put in all your details and shows what you should get. Although it will only show you as if those circumstances are now and give you an amount from now till april but if you times the figure by three you'll get a yearly amount to go on. Others recommend the entitledto website.

Good luck

pollyanna24

I would be quite interested in knowing the answer to this as I am currently trying to get pregnant. I have calculated my figures on getting:-

90% for the first six weeks of maternity, then the standard £104 a week.

However, this half pay sounds very interesting as I also earn more than bf.

Snaggles

Congratulations!

From DWP website:

SMP is paid for:

First 6 weeks - 90% of your average weekly earnings with no upper limit

Remaining 33 weeks - Standard rate or a rate equal to 90% of your average weekly earnings. You will get whichever rate is lower.

The standard rate from April 2007 is £112.75.

Child benefit is £18.10 a week for your first child I think.

debrag

Skint_Catt wrote: »

I thought you got 6months on half pay then the following 6m is optional without pay (IIRC).

Child benefit kicks in when the child is born - was £40 a month but is probably more than that now (for first child).

You don't have to tell your employer whether you will return to work or not until the final month (either month 5 or 11).

may be it is half pay you get not full pay. I know where I work you are only down as being off for 6 months even if you have told them you are taking the full year. After the 6 months you just tell them you are taking an other 6 months.

Some companies don't give maternity pay so it's only from the government

mrcow

Hia,

Just to clarify:

Child benefit is £17 per week.

Maternity pay is 90% for six weeks and then £112 per week for 33 weeks. There is no half pay option, unless your employer operated a scheme outside of SMP.

I VERY much doubt you'll get any sales commission whilst on maternity leave. So don't build that into any equations. You're employer will clarify your position.

You will however be entitled to other benefits already received......so eg. if you have a car allowance, that may well continue. If you have a company car then you should be able to keep it, although you'll obviously still have to pay all your tax on it, so it may be worth seeing if you can take the money instead.

newmum1

I believe that paid mat leave has now gone up from 6 months to 9 months, child benefit is approx £18 per week, and tax credits depends on income. Check your works policy employers have to pay 6 weeks at 90% but some 'nice' employers pay for longer even though they dont have to. And you can also have unpaid leave I think up to 6 months hope this helps

newmum1

mrcow wrote: »

Hia,

Just to clarify:

Child benefit is £17 per week.

Maternity pay is 90% for six weeks and then £112 per week for 33 weeks.

I VERY much doubt you'll get any sales commission whilst on maternity leave. So don't build that into any equations. You're employer will clarity your position.

You will however be entitled to other benefits already received......so eg. e a car if you have a car allowance, that may well continue. If you have a company car then you should be able to keep it, although you'll obviousy still have to pay all your tax on it, so it may be worth seeing if you can take the money instead.

Also if you have a company car they take it into consideration when calculating your tax credits.