help re maternity pay

[littleflump]

Hiya
I'm currently expecting child no 2, and as my first will only be 18 months when second baby comes along, I would really like to take a year off this time. I know that I only get paid SMP up until week 39, but does anybody know if there is any other financial help I can get from week 39 up until week 52. I am a teacher, so can't use up leave, as I have standard hols, so they don't count.

Money will be tight, as I am new in to teaching, only 3rd year, and we are having to move to a bigger house.

Anybody any knowledge of this or have they done it? Any help greatly appreciated.

It would be so nice to be able to spend 12 months with them being so small. I went back after 7 months with first one.

Thanks
Jo

 

[My_First]

Unfortunatly not, as you are still classed as employed.

 

[littleflump]

Thanks, well that settled that one, looks like that won't be happening. My friend is currently having a year off with her little one who is 6 months now, but she is using her holiday entitlement towards the end. Think it's unfair really, as I'm not actually having the holidays or getting paid for them, you would think I could accumulate the time.

 

[My_First]

Whay can you not accumulate the holidays? Legally you are entitled to this...

 

[xxembobxx]

WSS ^^ with regard to holidays. I had heard it works differently with teachers but you are legally entitled to accrue holiday while on maternity leave.
Depending on how much your OH earns you could get some tax credits. They don't take into account £100 of your weekly income for each week you receive SMP.
Try entitledto.com or the HMRC website to see if you would get anything based on just your OH's income.