Not returning from Mat Leave

[21Rach]

Hiya, im being paid smp from employer. i don't want to return to this particular job. i've heard i will be required to pay every penny back is this correct? because so many friends/websites say diff answers. ideally i would get a different job within the same tax yr. but am looking at a college course so time will be taken up with this and baby if i get on course so may have to stay home with parents anyway til next tax year when i can work
Does anyone know if this IS the case? x

"According to the HMRC, if an employee leaves they can have any SMP owed to them as a lump sum so long as they are aware that if they start work for another employer, they would owe money to their old employer on the commencement of their new employment, otherwise they will have been overpaid, and their previous employer will not be able to claim back monies from the tax office."

 

[Blah11]

I think you get to keep the SMP. Anything that your work has paid you ontop of SMP you have to pay back. I'm sure SMP is from the government, not your employer.

 

[kirst1805]

I think you get to keep the SMP. Anything that your work has paid you ontop of SMP you have to pay back. I'm sure SMP is from the government, not your employer.

this was my understanding as well



xxx

 

[Vici]

Yep, and mine. I have an enhance package from my employer and I know if i don't go back that I have to pay it back minus any SMP i'd have been entitled to x

 

[emmad339]

I won't be going back to work when my Maternity Leave comes to an end but wanted to keep my options open in case something happened to my partners job. I opted to take basic SMP, which I won't have to pay back when I hand in my resignation. However, my employer also offers an enhanced package of Maternity Pay called occupational Maternity pay which could have been paid on top of my basic SMP. If I had opted to receive this additional payment then I would be required to return to work for at least 13 weeks or risk having to pay the additional element back. But I opted to have this additional money paid to me as a lump sum if I found myself in a position where I could/had to return to work. So I won't have to pay anything back - that's my understanding anyway

 

[GersPrincess]

I would have thought that if you leave your job and take a lump sum of SMP (say 6 month's worth for example) but then get a new job when you've only been off for a month, you'd have 5 month's pay in your hand which you wouldn't be entitled to because you wouldnt be on maternity leave anymore.
Does that make sense?

when my SIL was on Maternity leave, she had an enhancement package and was told if she didnt return, that would be the bit she'd have to pay back.

Your best bet is to check with your HR department really

 

[MrsRH]

if you have an enhanced package, you have to return to work for 13 weeks (3 months) or have to pay back the difference between your total received and SMP.

If you are only on SMP, don't go back you don't pay anything.

If you don't go back then get another job within your maternity period, your maternity pay stops but you don't have to pay anything back if just on SMP.

Speak to your HR for further clarification!!
good luck.. it's certainly a financial minefield!!
xxx

 

[sobersadie]

Normal smp you dont pay back its only if you had an enhanced package from your work you wud pay the difference. If you are getting smp and took on a new job u have to tell the old job as you cant get both at the same time. smp is paid by the government not your employer.

 

[Jules]

I got 6 weeks at 90% of my wage and then 33 weeks of SMP. I didn't have to pay anything back

SMP is just the basic what everyone who works is entitled to, your work pays and they claim it back through the government i think. . ...

 

[muddles]

I will get:

4 weeks full pay
2 weeks at 90% of full pay
12 weeks of 50% of full pay plus SMP
After that the rest is just SMP.

If I return to work I will have to work 13 weeks notice period (teacher) and if I don't return to work I have to pay back the 12 weeks half pay. I get to keep the 4 weeks full pay and the two weeks at 90% plus all the SMP.

I will pay back the 12 weeks half pay as it is more cost effective than me going back for 13 weeks, as we would pay out more in nursery fees for me to be back at work for 13 weeks and I will be miserable.

 

[HannahsMummy]

I do PAYE for our company. You get to keep all the SMP as we claim this back from the government.

Anything on top of SMP the company can reclaim.

Check on your wage slip exactly what you are being paid - if it is purely SMP then you are fine and it is all yours to keep.