gah !help ! confused woman here !

It's all in the way you time it.  If you aim to have a littlie born in April (or shortly after) you've earnt nothing! 

Michaela was born on 7th April (but I was on annual leave until June) so I'd only earnt a pittance.  With this one because I'm going on leave earlier I'll only be paid about a month more than I was with Michaela, so still a small pittance, granted I earn more now so that affects the allowance too.

 

ETA:  This post sounds really bad, as if I'm having kids for money  Please believe me, if I was interested in cash I'd not be having kids since my estimated WFF allowance amounts to just over 5% of my weekly pay (I pay tonnes more in tax each year than I'll be getting while on maternity leave)

Edited by MrsMojo

as far as i know if it is for medical reasons it can start as soon as you can prove you've been told not to work and then goes until 8 or so weeks after. it is one of the only times you'll get paid out more than the 14 weeks. if you search the website there is something about it. if you cant get paid out for whatever reason there is the sickness benefit which would have to pick up the tab but it is a generic amount and probably less than PPL

oh ok , so you could get it if you left earlier provided you already had a child or two going by your spouses wage ?

If i could , i would finish tomorrow haha, but will suck it up til May ...unless we come into a huge amount of money in the meantime ....

I'm putting in a formal letter asking for 52 weeks' leave but when I hand it to my bosses I'll be saying "but my intention at this stage is to return after 6mos". You could do the same with not returning, ie say (not write) "I'm wanting to put in for 52 weeks' leave and I have to give you 3 weeks' notice for returning, but at this stage I am not intending to return".

About the WFF, if you are not sure about estimating your income then just opt for the pay at the end of the year option. If you are entitled for WFF you may also be entitled to the accommodation supplement with WINZ, which is calculated on an each week basis, instead of annual income.

oh no...theres a parental tax credit or the paid parental leave?
looks like i'll have to look that up too !

meh , i want to finish work earlier than May, I know , spoilt madam , but unless I was able to get WFF until then I guess its Heigh Ho heigh ho, off to work I go ...
Why oh WHY was i not born an heiress? id do a far better job than Paris Hilton ....

I'm the same as busy mum, I put in my leave and have received all my info back I have only put in for 6 months mat leave but have worked out our budget I only work part time at night and with dh over estimate wages we get quite a nice amount of WWF with 3 children , and also accom sup so have decided not to return but will wait for my mat leave to finish it finishes on 2nd april new financial year I will then resign For me to do my hours at night cuts into dh overtime he is able to do and puts extra pressure on my parents who look after our kids if we both have to work, they already do my nephews kindy pickups and school drop offs/pickups as well so have decided as much as I enjoy my few hours at night it won't be worth it
You generally get more taking ppl than you do parental tax credit.