Bit complicated - Maternity leave and sick leave.

[kimandbump]

Hiya

I was wondering if anyone has any knowledge of my situation and can offer advice.

I work for the nhs and finished a years maternity leave on 24th Jan. Since then I have been on annual leave and am due back to work next Monday.

I am currently 16 weeks pregnant with my second baby. In my first pregnancy I had severe pre eclampsia and ended up delivering at 34 weeks. Over the past few weeks I have had high blood pressure, dizzy spells and have generally felt unwell. My GP doesn't want me to return to work and wants to sign me off sick. I am seeing my consultant later this week so I am leaving the final decision down to them.

What I would like to know is can I go from a period of maternity leave onto annual leave then sick leave then back onto maternity leave and still be entitled to my full maternity pay package without actually returning to work?

Thanks x

 

[Dinah93]

If you're NHS I'd imagine you get decent sick pay? You qualify for SMP in terms of length of service as maternity leave and sick pay doesn't constitute a break in service, the only thing would be if you didn't earn over the threashold (roughly £125 a week) in the qualifying period to get full SMP.

 

[kimandbump]

Yeah, I would get up to 6 months full sick pay and SMP. Just not sure if I would be entitled to the enhanced maternity package offered by the NHS? I called HR today to try to find out where I stand and to be honest they were useless and couldn't tell me what I would be entitled to. I am now getting stressed about money which isn't helping matters. To be honest if I get signed off work after seeing my consultant there isn't much I can do anyway but it would be good to know what I am entitled to so that we can start planning. It's so frustrating as I have worked for the NHS for 10 years and can count on one hand the amount of days I have had off sick in that time, however I feel I am going to lose out financially because of something I have no control over.

 

[oliviarose]

I may be very wrong with what I say, but will you not get what you were getting whilst you are on sick pay if you don't return? During what weeks do they work out the SMP? As it will not be caluculated whilst you were on unpaid mat leave will it?

How do they work out your sick pay too? As from 6-9 months is just at the standard SMP of £125 isn't it? How will it be affected with you being on unpaid mat leave for 3 months?

You may not get as much as you did last time, as I am guessing you were getting paid extra for working shifts, weekends, etc? Is there anything about this in the sick pay policy

Sorry I can't be of anymore help.

 

[RebeccaG]

I think smp is based on your average earnings between weeks 17 and 25 if that helps? X