Sick leave before maternity leave?

[littlelamb]

I hope someone can help. I am now in my fourth week off work as my dd has been so ill and I ended up in hospital myself last week with some bleeding. I am 26 weeks pregnant and this afternoon I have seen my GP who has signed me off with antenatal depression. She has given me a note for 2 weeks, which will take me to 29 weeks, the earliest I can take maternity leave. My work don't offer any kind of sickness benefits so it will mean going os SSP for two weeks before my maternity leave starts. Does anyone have experience of being signed off before maternity leave? I am a bit worried about how work will react, but there is no way I can go back evben for two weeks with the way that I am feeling

[LIZS]

I've a feeling a pg related illness cna bring your ml forward .

[bellabelly]

If you are on sick leave they cannot force you to start maternity leave early until you're about 34 weeks(might be 36 weeks - can't quite remember). You will continue to be paid as sick leave - this happened to me last year. Depends on your employer but mine didn't even suggest that I should take maternity leave earlier. There is a thread about this somewhere which is much more detailed - perhaps if you search the threads you'll find it.

Oops just re-read your post properly - how can they get away with not offering any sickness benefits? Is that even legal? In that case I don't know the answer but am sure somebody will.

[Bewilderbeast]

AFAIK If you have a continuous pregnancy related illness in the 4 weeks prior to you being due to take mat leave your employer can start your mat leave early.

[flowerybeanbag]

yes mat leave starts automatically at 36 wks if off sick pg-related. If you only get ssp you may well be better off starting ML as soon as you can.