What if a student is ill prior to her pregnancy?
If a student is absent due to a pregnancy related illness before the expected week of childbirth or before the agreed date that she is due to take maternity absence, and it is within 4 weeks of this date, this should be regarded as the start of the maternity absence. The bursary will therefore continue to be paid, from this date. A.Absence prior to the last four weeks should be treated as sickness absence and can be covered by the normal 60 day rule sickness rule.
