Maternity pay question

Hi Everyone,

Quick question. My baby is due 4th of July. I want to go off work on the 18th June (about 2 weeks before my due date). I have about 4 weeks holiday to use. My question is, am I allowed to take my 4 weeks holiday from 18th June-16th July and then start my maternity pay after that (I only get the statutory 6 weeks at 90% and the remaining at about £123 per week).

Or is there a rule saying I HAVE to start my maternity leave when the baby is born so if the baby is born 4th July, then i will have only used 2 weeks holiday and will have 2 weeks left?

If anyone knows of any links where this question is spelled out in black and white, I'd be most appreciative, because the lady that does our HR said she isnt sure... and I've had a look but couldnt find anything.

Thanks for your help,
x
Chrissy

Your maternity leave will automatically start on the date you have your baby unless you have chosen to start it earlier.  So if you took holiday from the 18th of June and your baby was born early on the 19th June, your maternity leave would start then.

My LO was due on the 4th of July.  My maternity was due to start on the 25th of June but he came on the 23rd June so my maternity leave started then.

I hope that helps.

Once your baby is born, your maternity leave must begin. I'm not sure where to find that exact wording. See the link below, what if my baby is born early. It actually says that it will start the day after baby is born.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/DG_175869

I left about ten days before my baby was born (I had a planned c-section so knew the date) I took 5 days annual leave and then started my maternity leave and SMP. My work let me tack any remaining A/L onto the end of my maternity leave. I was also able to tack on the six weeks I had accrued whilst on maternity leave to the end as well.

Edited to add: I just noticed at the top of that page it says that the last day your SMP can start is the day following the birth

Like the ladies above said, your maternity is required to start on the day you deliver your baby.

It may be best to see if your employers will allow you to take any remaining holiday at the end of your maternity. My employers have allowed this. I'm taking 3 weeks of my holiday before my official maternity starts and will be allowed to take the remaining week at the end. Which is really nice because you get that extra little bit of pay at the end when you need it most.