maternity pay in the NHS

karenritchie

Hi,
I work for the NHS and have decided to take maternity leave for 39 weeks and then I hope to return to work.There is a slight possibility I may be unable to return and if this is the case I would have to pay back the occupational part of my maternity pay. I have contacted my finance dept. to ask them if they could give me a guideline figure as to what I might expect to pay back. however they have said it is too complicated as there are too many variables and have advised me to take the statutory matern. pay only and to receice a lump sum in occup. matern pay if/when I return to work. However at the end of the day I would like to take all matern. pay if possible, and just want an idea of what I might need to pay back if needs be. I've tried to work out the figures below (obviosly only an estimate)- are there any mathematicians out there who could advise me if my figures are anywhere close to the mark? any help much appreciated:-

I've read that if you don't return on an agreed return date(ie. if you don't return for the first 3months) then you have to pay back the "occupational" part of maternity pay (but not the "statutory" part of maternity pay.) Therefore as follows:-
For first 8 weeks of maternity leave = full pay (90% of which is statutory maternity pay plus 10% occupational maternity pay)
For the following 18 weeks =half pay + statutory maternity pay (the half pay is occupational matern. pay +approx £112.00/week statutory matern pay.
(Subsequently for next 13 weeks leave you would receive statutory matern. pay only.
Therefore

myGross pay/mth=1445.79
(deductions=
163.60PAYE
94.08NI D
86.75 Pension
66.80 Additional voluntary contribution to pension)
9.70 unison
=420.93)
Therefore would base anything I pay back on my gross pay (not net pay)

Therefore first 8 weeks occup matern pay =10% of 1445.79= approx£144.58 for 4 weeks. For 8 weeks=144.58x2=£289.16 to pay back.

For next 18 weeks pay back half of my occup. matern pay=
1445.79/mth divided by 2=approx 722.00/mth (in reality might be a little different after tax etc)
Therefore for 18 weeks(4.5 months) I would pay back
722x4.5= £3253.00

Total to pay back=289.16+3253= approx £3452.00
Is this about coorect
Thanks for your help
Karen:money:

MRS_TO_BE_2

I'm no good at sums but is there a min period you would need to return for? Don't forget you accure annual leave whilst on maternity leave and this may count towards min period if you can take it at end of mat leave.

Sheel

if you were returning to work you would be due
8 weeks at full pay
then 18 weeks at half pay plus lower rate smp ( approx £117.00 per week )
then a further 13 weeks at smp only

if you didnt return you would be due
6 weeks at 90% of full pay
then 33 weeks at lower rate smp ( assuming you have enough nhs service as at your qualifying week )

this would mean you would owe back approx £3636.00 gross

your nhs employer could operate a scheme whereby you could take time off as a career break - this wouldnt count as leaving your job but would mean you would have to return at a later agreed date ( your HR Department would be able to advise you of this )

Mr Sheel

jackomdj

My sister used to work for the land registry where they get paid over & above SMP & she did not want to go back, based on holiday's accrued, bank holidays etc she ended up going back for 2 days & keeping all her maternity pay!

Nicky

tirednewdad

Don't know what you do in the NHS, But my wife worked as a nurse, and it is very complicated. In her circumstances the best thing she did was call her Nursing union who were able to answer all of her questions in an easy to understand way.

Hope this helps.

mdhughes03

HI, I don't work for the NHS butfor another government department and the policy with us is that if you return to work for one month (or equivalent of your current part time hours) that you don't have to pay the occupational portion back. Actually this "return" to work can be annual leave. It may be worth it financially to return?

hope this helps

Sheel

MRS_TO_BE wrote: »

I'm no good at sums but is there a min period you would need to return for? .

It's 3 months in thr NHS. (don't think Mr Sheel put that in his post)