How long do you need to be back at work to get maternity pay again?

Since you are technically still employed while you’re on maternity leave, you can qualify for statutory maternity pay again if you get pregnant during that time. But to get the full pay there is a specific eight-week period you need to be back at work.

In the UK, the conditions you need to meet to qualify don’t change. You need to be working for that employer for 26 weeks up to the 15^th week before your baby is due. That includes time when you’re on maternity leave. And you need to earn at least £123 a week before tax.

If you’re on maternity leave, this will be calculated based on what you are receiving as maternity pay, so probably not your full wage. And remember statutory maternity pay is paid for 39 weeks. In the first six weeks you get 90% of your average earnings, but then you get a flat rate of £172.48 per week or 90% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is lower, for 33 weeks.

The calculation period of statutory maternity pay is the eight weeks before the end of the 15^th week before the week of your due date. If that period is during the 33 weeks you receive the flat rate, your statutory maternity pay will be much lower during your second maternity leave. And the end of your maternity leave – the last 13 weeks, are unpaid. So, if the calculation period for your statutory maternity pay falls on this period, you will not be entitled to receive any pay. But, if you’re back to work with full pay during those eight weeks, you will receive the full statutory pay.

It doesn’t matter if your maternity leaves overlap, you are entitled to 52 weeks’ maternity leave for each baby.

To see if you qualify, you can use this calculator.

You can start your maternity leave on the 11^th week before the week your baby is due, but you need to let your employer know of the date you want to start it by the 15^th week before your due date.

If there is a gap between your first maternity leave and your due date for the second child, you will need to return to work. If you don’t want to return to work, you can potentially use other types of leave, for example annual leave if you’ve accrued any, or sick leave if you are not well enough to go back to work.

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