I quit my job the other day, was supposed to return on the 1st of july and i quit on the 29th! OH was a bit cross with me as it means we're a bit strained for money till i sort out tax credits and/or benefits (not sure what we supposed to get?) but my boss was being mean and put my wages down as i was returning only part time so i asked her to review that decision and she didnt budge so i quit! She was such a b*tch when i went to collect my final smp and drop off my uniform...wouldnt even come out the office to give me my wages herself-sent someone else! now she's shown her true colours i'm so glad i'm outa there! only bad thing is harry wont get to play at nursery now which he loves. so i'll have to join some groups or something.... I'm so pleased though as i was fretting about going back anyway!
now i'm just a bit skint....! sorry for the long essay but been dying to get it off my chest and nobody else will listen!

Errr, just a word of caution hun, it might be worth ur while checking into this but I think because u quit, the company can technically request back all the SMP they paid u. Not 100% thou, so chk just in case - or someone else on here might know more.

I can understand ur reasons for doing it thou! Miserable woman!!

Hey hun, sounds like you made the right decision then, money will be a bit tight but im sure you will manage. Are you going to look for another job or guna stay a full time mum for a while? i was due back to work at end of may but also quit, as i wanted to be spend more time with lo.
As far as i know you dont have to pay money back, check out the web page below it tells you a bit about smp.....
[url]http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/DG_10018741
It says if you dont intend on going back to work you dont have to pay smp back.
Caz x x

[Modified by: cazzy.w on July 04, 2008 06:45 PM]</p>

hmmmm, i think mummyx5 could be right. you usually have to work 3 months after to aviod paying it back - however, you should be able to sue her for discrimination!! she cant put your salary down just cos you've dropped your hours!!

if you have changed your job there, that is a different story, but otherwise........!!!!

i quit my job instead of returning! and i havnt had to pay back a penny! if u tell them u are not planning on returning to work they dont have to pay you maternity pay!!! xx

Hi well i was due back after my maternity but after going for a meeting just before i was due back to discuss afew things...which they had no intention of compromising(ie weekends,Bank Hols and working over Xmas)i quit also!i wasnt aware of having to pay any money back,i think its something to do with how long you worked there b4 taking your maternity but again im not sure,anyway i think you have to do whats best for yourself and your LO,it can be a struggle but you get by,take advantage of all the help you can get thats out there!

I quit my job too!!!!! Its scary not having a job but I would be paying more in childcare than I would be earning so it just wasn't worthwhile.
I have 2 children so it just added up to much.

My understanding of the SMP is that you only pay back if the company gives you extra maternity pay on top of the SMP.You would have had to sign a form for this and agree to go back for 3 months or pay the money back - luckily I decided not to sign up for the extra money to keep my options open and not be worrying about owing any money.But I still got all my SMP.

I hope to go back to work in a year or so and find something a bit closer to home and maybe do something complety different.I have just started going to lots of baby groups to keep us busy. ::lol:

melanie is right,you only pay back the money if the company has given you extra on top of the smp

sarah

oh yes, i'm very good with my knowledge of my rights! I dont need to pay any back as my boss was far too tight to offer any on top of smp! when you are only getting smp you dont need to pay any back regardless of whether you go back or not, however if your employer pays you extra on top of smp they can ask for it back if that is what the contract states. If there is no contract however then that is again another story! the only problem i could have faced was because i quit 3 days before i was due to return she could have made me work 1mnths notice as i didnt hand in my notice soon enough, but luckily she said i didnt have to do that! But yes it is quite scary having no job....i've not not worked since i was 15! its very scary....i dont want to return for about 2 years if i dont have to, harry's only a baby once so i want to make the most of the time he wants me around...thats what i wanted all along...i'm going all soppy now lol!

ahh, that'll be the answer then!! i work in the NHS but got full pay / half pay etc as well as SMP, so i would have had to pay it back!
that's good then!! enjoy your extended mat leave!!

xxxxx

Aww, glad i was only half right lol - was 8yrs ago when i did similar so thats my excuse!!

Best of luck hun, and enjoy Harry