advantages - maternity leave at full pay or half pay?

[Lilli]

Just a quick question - I've been hearing about getting maternity leaveat full and half pay - ie 14 weeks full pay or 28 weeks half pay - is there any advantage of choosing one over the other - for example is there a tax benefit?

[*Infinity*]

I took my maternity leave pay over 6 months at half pay (as opposed to 3 months at full pay). Yes there was a tax benefit - I was taxed less each fortnight than if I was to have taken full pay. Plus it also helped stretch out the financial support over a longer period of time for us which made a big difference.

[Kazbah]

It depends on when you're on leave. If you can take it at full-pay in one financial year, and then no income for the next financial year then you can get more govt assistance payments including possible health-care card etc.

[Fuzzywuzzy]

It depends on when you're on leave. If you can take it at full-pay in one financial year, and then no income for the next financial year then you can get more govt assistance payments including possible health-care card etc.

:yeahthat:

I took my leave starting in April at full pay which meant that I had a lower income this financial year and qualified for more payments. I guess that i would only consider taking it at half pay if i was bad a budgeting and needed the income to stretch out further

[AliBaby]

Are you a teacher? There are quite a few benefits if you take it at half pay instead of full pay.

[Lilli]

Alibaby - yes, I am a teacher - I will have to check our agreement though as I work in a non-governement school - I hope mat leave at half pay is available!