Maternity pay entitlement?

[tigwig]

After posting a thread about childminding I now have another query! If I am pregnant and stay at my part time job until I can go on maternity leave then have the baby and start childminding whilst still on mat leave (with no intention of going back) am I still entitled to the maternity pay as well as my earnings from the childminding?
How does that work because it wouldn't seem fair to be 'earning' 2 wages but on the other hand I would be entitled to the mat pay from working in my previous job.
I don't understand what would happen!!

[bednobs]

does your place of work have a maternity scheme or is it smp?
if you have a scheme, they will normally stipulate that you return to work or else you have to pay it all back

[cazzz1975]

I think you have a cheek!

[redcrx]

if you were childminding then you wouldnt be unable to work (ie on maternity leave) so no, you shouldnt be entitled to it.

youd be back at work, not on leave.

[onlyme26]

This is illegal,

its almost like benefit fraud,

think about it, why would a company be entitled to pay you when you have no intentions of going back? and are working for another company or self employed?

plus when you return to work whether its current or new employer, thats it then you've returned! maternity is then over.

[pink-kittens]

Actually, you can work whilst on Mat leave and get your SMP

" Working for another employer

If you work for another employer (employer B) before the birth you can still get SMP from the employer (employer A) who is paying your SMP. If you work after the birth for employer B and you were not working for employer B in the 15 th week before your baby was due, your SMP from employer A will stop on the Saturday before you start work. However, if you worked for employer B in the 15 th week before your baby was due, you may work for employer B without affecting your SMP from employer A.

You can do self employed or voluntary work without any loss of SMP. During unpaid maternity leave, you can work for another employer unless there is a clause in your contract limiting any other work. "
http://www.workingfamilies.org.uk/asp/family_z one/fs_pr1_matrights.asp

Just for interest only If you have 2 part time jobs you will get 2 lots of SMP

[pink-kittens]

Morning red *waves*

[tigwig]

To Caz and only me if you read the thread properly you will see I was asking how it would work not how much can I get? I have no intention of 'frauding' anybody I will be completely honest with my employer (NHS which has 9mths leave).
I only asked because I wanted to know how it all worked so I haven't got a cheek at all.
To pink kitten thank you for your informative answer. As I would be self employed I take it that I would still be entitled to the SMP as well? I will just wait and see what happens, I still have to get pregnant yet and get some customers although if they all have the attitude some of you have this will be easier said then done!

[onlyme26]

Hi tigwig, sorry if my answer was a bit abrupt,
its just with my company, im entitled to 18 weeks full pay, 8 weeks half then 6 months smp, and i am not able to leave after this, i would have to return to work for a certain amount of time before leaving or alternativly pay back part of the maternity, also in my contract i am not allowed to work elsewhere while im on maternity leave.

But your company/situation will probabilly be different,

best of luck, i think its nice you want to get into child caring

xxxx

[cazzz1975]

apologies If I have misinterpreted your question

[pink-kittens]

onlyme

If you choose not to go back after being paid your enhanced mat package you would ONLY have to pay back the extra (or part of it) your employer paid you NOT the SMP or any part of it

Just in case you didn't already know that

I wish more employers paid enhanced mat packages :)