Maternity Pay Question

[pennies]

We're currently TTC #1 so thought I'd turn my attention to our finances and get planning!

The problem is I'm so confused by maternity pay!

My work offers 8 weeks full pay, then on to SMP, however one thing I can't work out, would I get:

8 weeks full pay
6 weeks @ 90%
X weeks @ £139.58 per week

Or just:

8 weeks full pay
X weeks @ £139.58 per week

I can't find anything online that tells me whether occupation maternity pay cancels out the 6 weeks at 90% or not?!

I can't/don't really want to ask my work as I don't want to let on I am trying, but also because they've never had anyone go on maternity leave before (male oriented environment) meaning I'll likely be the first and I can pretty much guarantee that they won't know. We also don't have a dedicated HR person, just one of the guys at work doing that role 🙈

Any help or previous experience of this much appreciated!

 

[ms sunshine]

this is going back years but it was staggered going smaller and then onto smp.

just had a quick look and its 90% for 6 weeks which sounds rightand then £139 a week. bare in mind you will get child tax credit which is roughly 60 quid a week and working tax credit roughly 20 and child benefit which is 20 once baby is there

 

[Daisies11]

Hi. SMP gives you the 6 weeks at 90% followed by 33 weeks at the £139 figure.

If your company offer the first 8 weeks at full pay then this is an enhancement above the basic SMP rate. After the 8 weeks you'd then drop into the weekly £139 rate for the remaining 31 weeks.

 

[pennies]

Thank you for both of your responses, I had a feeling it would cancel out the 6 weeks at 90%.

I don't think I'd qualify for either child tax credit or working tax credit, so would just be child benefit too.