Changes to SMP/Mat allowance

[Terrilea]

I've just been told by a man in work that if i'm claiming either SMP or MA and my baby id due AFTER the 1st April 2010 then i'm entitled to be paid for 52 weeks instead of the current 39 weeks due to a new government change. Apparantley this was meant to happen last April but they put it off for a year due to the economic climate.
Has anybody else heard anything like this, i have been trying to google it but alls i can find is this....


Work and Families Act 2006 – update
Previously we have told you about our plans for the introduction of two of the major elements of the Work and Families Act 2006, these being as follows:

The new Additional Paternity Leave and Pay (APL&P)
The extension from thirty nine weeks to fifty two weeks of Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) Maternity Allowance (MA) and Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP).
You may wish to factor the following updates into your planning schedules.

Government’s goal
Government has a goal to extend Statutory Maternity Pay [SMP], Maternity Allowance [MA] and Statutory Adoption Pay [SAP] from thirty nine weeks to ifty two weeks and to introduce Additional Paternity Leave and Pay [APL&P] by the end of this Parliament. APL and P would give employed fathers a right to take up to an additional twenty six weeks off work with pay to care for their child in its first year, if the mother has returned to work and had not used her full entitlement to paid maternity or adoption leave.

Timing
It remains Government’s goal to introduce these changes by the end of this Parliament. However the implementation date has not yet been decided. In the meantime to give you some clarity and further time to make your preparations the Government has decided that these changes will not be implemented in April 2009.

It has previously been announced that they will not be implemented in April 2008.

What this means in practice
HMRC has, up to now, been planning on the basis of implementation for babies due on or after April 2009. We will now start planning implementation for babies due or expected to be placed on or after April 2010. This should not be taken to imply any timing decisions have been taken. It is simply a pragmatic approach. We will not be planning for implementation in October 2009.

 

[jess_smurf]

last i heard we are still waiting for verdict if it will be brought in this year hope they do xx

 

[jess_smurf]

this is what i found

April – Extension of Statutory Maternity Pay - postponed indefinitely

The government has announced it will not go ahead with the planned extension of statutory maternity pay (from 39 weeks to 52 weeks). The government had planned to implement this policy by April 2010 but this has now been postponed indefinitely. However the government remains committed to the policy in principle.

 

[LankyDoodle]

Yep, it was postponed pretty much as soon as it had been implemented! Typical!

HOWEVER, remember we are due a general election in May, so while they are not committing to this, do keep your fingers crossed as anything Labour can do to keep their final grip on power, I am sure they will do. Just be wary though that the EU are holding our govt's puppet strings on this.