Working for NHS / spreading maternity pay??

I wish my NHS trust allowed me to split over 12 months but it's not something they offer sadly. So if you are definitely going to take a year off, I'd say go for the split over 12 months and take the hit of lower monthly payments as otherwise the last 3 months you'll not have even have SMP so it will allow you to have more time with your child. At least you'll know as well what's coming in every month, mine keeps dropping as the months go on and it gets harder, I so wish my NHS trust offered this, I think it would be so much easier to have more time off with baby if they did. Plus, you still get taxed on maternity pay and SMP, so if getting less pay monthly but over more months, I'm pretty sure you'll pay less tax overall as will look like you are on a lower consistent salary.

Hey, im also a top band 4 and I got mine split over 10 months ( taking last 2 months as annual leave )
They never split it equal atall.. my first 3 months have been shocking but the next 4 months are not far off my usually wage. If you speak to your HR they can do you a copy of how much you will get each month. This will not show tax/NI/ pension reduction though! x

My previous trust allowed you to split, but it wasn't that simple. The SMP pay can't be changed, so that does not get split (so you don't get any of that for the first 8 weeks, then you get normal SMP for 31 weeks). The OMP is split, but only over the OMP period (the first 26 weeks) so you get an equal amount of OMP each week for the first 26 weeks. It means for the first 8 weeks your pay is a bit lower until the SMP kicks in. I'd 100% split if given the option, but I don't know how UC affects it

I’m top band 6 at the start of my mat leave and I’m splitting it over the 12 months. I just needed a bit more stability with my income.

Thank you so much for advice ladies, defo looks like splitting it seems the better option! Xx

I’m coming up to the end of my mat leave and spread my payments out over my mat leave, it was good for consistency and my trusts payroll department were helpful in sending me a forecast about what I’d receive before I went off! You’ll also accrue your annual leave whilst you’re off so you can use that at the end of your leave to extend how long you’re off x

I'm a band 7 and sadly only qualify for SMP... so its a big drop and I'm having it split over 9 months. They offered 12 months maternity but it would be unpaid. I have savings, but its fair to say I'm dreading the midst of maternity financially. Don't get me wrong my husband has an amazing job, but I'll feel guilty for him paying for everything. I know it takes two to tango and we are a united front, but we are both hard workers 😅

I split my maternity pay with the NHS, please be aware though it’s not the same payment each month but at least you get money for 12 months. That’s what I decided to do, you can ask for a forecast of your maternity pay with payroll once’s it’s been processed by you manager x

I’m also top of band 4 and am just going back to work after 12 months of mat leave and spreading the payments. This last month has been the lowest pay (around £680). It was 100% worth it and I’m so glad I did it. I couldn’t imagine leaving my son any earlier! I have breastfed him the whole time so this has saved money. I also buy lots of his clothes on vinted, and then also sell the clothes on once he’s outgrown them. Save as much as you can now. Start your mat leave as late as you feel able to.

Remember you are also eligible for child benefit which is around £100 a month. Not sure if you’d still be eligible if you also got universal credit though but worth looking into.

You can also put the request in and ask for finance to send you a breakdown of what the payments over the 12 months will look like. If it doesn’t seem feasible you can always adjust it.

I took 10 months to avoid the no pay period and spread the payments. I was bottom band 7 at that point, community so no shift enhancements. On 5 weeks months I was paid around £1600 per month and on 4 week months it was around £1300 I got. The payments change month to month even when you spread them because although you’re still paid monthly, they calculate maternity pay in weeks. X

I think I’m going to have to spread over the year anyway, as looking online I won’t be eligible for the free childcare funding hours until April 1st so even if I wanted to go back sooner I don’t think I would have the childcare until then! Thanks for all the insight ladies much appreciated ❤️