What happens to my membership if I go on maternity leave?

  1. Under legislation relating to the provision of non-pay benefits during maternity leave, University arrangements state that if you go on maternity leave and are eligible, the University will provide you with the benefit of the nursery fees at no cost to yourself, (known as Maintained Benefit) depending on the following:
  2. To be eligible you must meet the following criteria:
  1. Be in the Workplace Nurseries' Salary Exchange Scheme at week 15 before your due date, and
  2. Maintain the exchange value at the week 15 level, until the start of Statuary Maternity Pay (SMP) or Maternity Allowance (MA). Please note that if you reduce the exchange value after week 15 and before your due date the University will provide you with the reduced level of benefit.
  1. If you do not meet the above criteria, you are able to salary exchange until SMP or MA starts, and the University will automatically withdraw you from the scheme.
  2. If you meet the above criteria then you can choose either option 1 or 2 below, depending on your personal circumstances.

Option 1: in receipt of University Contractual Maternity Pay

  1. If you opt to receive University Contractual Maternity Pay, you are able to continue to salary exchange in the normal way during the first 26 weeks of your maternity leave. This is because during this period you will receive maternity pay equal to your normal salary, which can be used for the purposes of salary exchange.
  2. After the first 26 weeks, if you are entitled, you will receive Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) for 13 weeks. You are also able to take up to 13 weeks unpaid leave after this period, amounting to a total of 52 weeks maternity leave.
  3. The University will provide you with the benefit of University nursery fees at no cost to yourself from week 27 of your maternity leave.
  4. The amount of Maintained Benefit provided by the University will be based on the rate at which you salary exchanged from the 15th week before your due date onwards. This is calculated by the University once you have supplied the University with your due date. This arrangement will continue until the end of your maternity leave (week 52) or your return to work, whichever is sooner.  The Maintained Benefit will be paid directly to the nursery to pay your nursery fees. However making a change to your nursery booking pattern between the 15th week before your due date and receiving SNP, which results in a fee change, may have an impact on your Maintained Benefit.  For more information please contact us on childcareservices@admin.cam.ac.uk 

Option 2: in receipt of SMP or MA only

  1. If you opt to receive SMP only, or are only eligible to receive MA, from week 1 of your maternity leave, you will not be able to continue to salary exchange.
  2. The University will provide you with the benefit of University nursery fees at no cost to yourself from week 1 of your maternity leave.
  3. The amount of Maintained Benefit provided by the University will be based on the rate at which you salary exchanged from the 15th week before your due date onwards. This is calculated by the University once you have supplied the University with your due date. This arrangement will continue until the end of your maternity leave (week 52) or your return to work, whichever is sooner. The Maintained Benefit will be paid directly to the nursery to pay your nursery fees. However making a change to your nursery booking pattern between the 15th week before your due date and receiving SNP, which results in a fee change, may have an impact on your Maintained Benefit. For more information please contact us - childcareservices@admin.cam.ac.uk 
  4. If you claim University Maternity Pay in retrospect for the first 26 weeks of your maternity leave, you will be required to reimburse the University for the Maintained Benefit they paid on your behalf during that time. This will be arranged through the Childcare Services and Payroll upon completion of the required 3 month period.