To think the amount of SMP is entirely unreasonable?

I would be yes!

Agree with a PP. Paternity leave should be upped with a use it or lose it clause. I think having a year full pay is unsustainable in our society at the moment, but as a statutory requirement both men and women should get the same enhanced pay, then they can split the remainder as they see fit as you can do now with shared parental leave.

It’s a disgrace that men get less and just contributes to the notion that the female is always the primary care giver, and as a result discriminated in the workplace.

I think it's a fair amount to be honest. If it's important to someone to have a good maternity package then that's something to look for whilst job hunting, which is what I did. More employers could offer better maternity packages. My employer has just increased the maternity full pay period from 18 to 26 weeks. My baby making days are over but I'm pleased for the women who it will benefit. But I'm not sure the state should fund it. The universal credit amount for an unemployed single person is less than £400 a month.

Finding this thread absolutely bonkers.

That a forum full of mums can't have more understanding of the shit financial position new mothers find themselves in and helping find ways to make the world better.

All those posters saying, it was shitter in my day, I hope it's still shit for you, need to be ashamed of themselves.

Can’t you just do shared leave as you’re the higher earner, you go back to work and your partner takes leave until the nursery place is available.

@cestlavielife totally missing the point. This comment is akin to people who say they have less child maintenance than the next woman so all women should shut up about being financially abused by men. Come on women, let’s do better….

@Parker231 that’s really nice for you and clearly suited you (genuine comment, not being funny with you!). But lots of women don’t want to do that and shouldn’t have to. Some women are seriously injured from birth mentally and/or physically and are not ready to go back after six months. Some don’t feel it’s right. I had an easy birth and great mat leave package and also wanted to return to work but can appreciate that’s not for everyone.

As for who should pay - taxpayers. The government should ensure that enough money is allocated to women to support them post birth. Giving birth to the next generation doesn’t really get more crucial does it? Giving birth to all these men who apparently hold up the world for us all? We need to start treating women better.

Load of people in Ops position will also get ‘top ups’ while on maternity leave, through UC.

Are you happy to pay much higher taxes to fund your proposal?

15 years ago six month olds went to nursery my 3 dc included. No harmful effects

I think you’re unreasonable to bring up expensive start up costs of having a baby. Those are entirely your choice and you don’t need the ‘big ticket items’.

Add the child benefit in too.

I truly believe that women and their babies should receive something like a universal income for the first year. I have no idea how it would be paid for but as a society we have to start making women a priority when the budgets are reviewed. Perhaps we don’t need another air craft carrier?

It is for this reason that more men should take paternity leave. This would mean less discrimination of young women. I’m not criticising your comment, as I owned a small business too and get your point. However, as a country we need to follow the Scandinavian approach to these topics.

I don't disagree but who should pay for it? As an owner of a small business, if I had to pay, I couldn't afford to hire women who were likely to have children - that wouldn't be great for women. If the government, what should be cut - health, education, free nursery hours?

I felt the same, OP. Then when it came to returning to work and I realised as a family we would have less net income after paying for nursery and travel costs to work, than when on the SMP only part of maternity leave it was a big wake up call.
(This is not a call out to not go back to work after maternity leave - for career progression, financial resilience, parity, pensions I personally think it important to stay in work where possible).
I think maternity and paternity pay and nursery costs should absolutely be reviewed and state subsidies increased.

What's galling is Maternity Allowance. It's Statutory, minus the six weeks at 90%.

I joined a new job already pregnant due to unexpected timing. Because of a small gap in employment, in spite of being a net contributor, boom, all gone.

You may get a tax refund OP depending on your earnings versus the tax year and the baby's birth.

Not to mention it takes 35 years of paying in to it to get it.

When DT’s were born, maternity leave was a maximum of six months. DT’s went to full time nursery at six months. They weren’t forced there - I wanted to go back to my career. We saved up pre maternity leave and then had to pay for two full time places at nursery.

Although I had a good maternity package, we didn’t rely on it as we had saved to cover my loss of salary.

Who do you think should pay for a higher level of SMP?

27% more of a shitty amount doesn’t make it loads more, it’s still shit.

It’s 27% more, so yes, loads more, combined with the fact the majority of people claiming state pension either have no mortgage or receive pension top up benefits to help with rent if their private provision doesn’t cover it.

I think it's a fair amount.

You get the best part of 9 months to save for maternity leave.

Plus there is also CHB (if you qualify).

And if you're self employed you really get salt rubbed into the wounds by the fact that employed women can go and get extra money from being self employed whilst we are stuck on maternity allowance 😑

Loads more???? It’s about £50 a week more lol. That’s is not loads more.

Maximum stage pension after 35 years is £220 a week.

I want to take 12 months off to go bumming it around the world. Pretty sure work wouldn't pay for that.

It is a lifestyle choice, not a right, to have a baby. You need to plan for it, the way you would plan if you wanted to bum round the world for 12 months.

Why should women who choose not to have babies pay for someone else's lifestyle choice who has chosen to have them?

I have two children a year apart. Would have loved to have had more, but couldn't afford it. Also can't afford to bum around the world for a year. You get the idea! Life isn't fair. Suck it up. Make some sacrifices and start saving. Really not that difficult. You don't have to have children, it's not mandatory!!!