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Original poster

Maternity pay

191 replies

NoMonNoFunx · 09/10/2025 22:05

What do you All do after 9 months when maternity Pay stops and you want to take the year.
am I being unreasonable to think we should get paid for the year.
I’ve always worked.

OP posts:
snoopyfanaccountant · 11/10/2025 07:28

LottieMary · 10/10/2025 13:07

I do agree it’s a shame that the funded childcare starts at 9m but there’s no option to use that as an extension to parental pay up to a year.

Not in Scotland. It doesn't start here until 3 years old.

SJM1988 · 11/10/2025 07:26

NoMonNoFunx · 10/10/2025 23:09

Yes, I did 🥱

but the government need to do their part and pay the year if they give the year

Show quote history

They do do their part. We get a hell of a lot more than other countries in terms of money and being allowed up to a year off.
You also dont have to take the full year. Its optional so if you cant afford it dont take it. I didnt with my first but did with my second.

Either save for your maternity leave or get a job that pays for the full year....there are companies out there that do that.

JC89 · 10/10/2025 23:27

NoMonNoFunx · 10/10/2025 23:09

Yes, I did 🥱

but the government need to do their part and pay the year if they give the year

Show quote history

They allow you to take the year and then pick up where you left off at work (in theory anyway), they don't say you have to take a full year. No-one is forcing you to take 3 months unpaid!

It would be nice to be paid for the full year, but it's not going to happen any time soon and I wouldn't want them to reduce the legally allowed length of maternity leave to the time the the government are willing to pay...

DownThePubWithStevieNicks · 10/10/2025 23:18

For the vast majority of women with healthy babies and no significant birth injuries, a full year is a luxury not a necessity.

I happen to believe that European countries that offer extended paid family leave have it right, but we don’t have that and so the reality is if you can’t afford a year you don’t take a year. It sounds like this isn’t your first baby so I’m not sure why this has come as a surprise.

Original poster
NoMonNoFunx · 10/10/2025 23:16

TrustedTheWrongFart · 10/10/2025 23:12

Why should the government pay when it’s an employment benefit?

Vote with your feet, find a job that pays a year maternity.

Show quote history

Mine is paid by government. Not my employer!!

OP posts:
tripleginandtonic · 10/10/2025 23:13

I think 9 months, with a choice to extend it to 12 months isn't too bad. It was 4 months when I had mine with no right to extend. I think you should be recovered from your pregnancy after 9 months on the whole.

TrustedTheWrongFart · 10/10/2025 23:12

NoMonNoFunx · 10/10/2025 23:09

Yes, I did 🥱

but the government need to do their part and pay the year if they give the year

Show quote history

Why should the government pay when it’s an employment benefit?

Vote with your feet, find a job that pays a year maternity.

Original poster
NoMonNoFunx · 10/10/2025 23:11

SantaArt · 10/10/2025 12:06

If someone cannot save AT ALL on their normal wage how on earth will they afford paying for a baby and everything they need?

Show quote history

Most likely UC or partners income?

OP posts:
Original poster
NoMonNoFunx · 10/10/2025 23:10

LottieMary · 10/10/2025 13:07

I do agree it’s a shame that the funded childcare starts at 9m but there’s no option to use that as an extension to parental pay up to a year.

We don’t get that in my country.

OP posts:
Original poster
NoMonNoFunx · 10/10/2025 23:09

SJM1988 · 10/10/2025 12:09

Saved up and budgeted.
If you've always worked surely you have savings and thought about that in the future.

Yes, I did 🥱

but the government need to do their part and pay the year if they give the year

OP posts:
Original poster
NoMonNoFunx · 10/10/2025 23:08

DorothyStorm · 09/10/2025 22:09

I had enough in savings before both my pregnancies. I could cover the bills and beyond.

If youve always worked, did you not save first?

Yes, I did, but it is running out, it has to last the whole way through as maternity pay is next to nothing.
We had summer holidays- birthdays- uniforms etc etc

OP posts:
LottieMary · 10/10/2025 13:07

I do agree it’s a shame that the funded childcare starts at 9m but there’s no option to use that as an extension to parental pay up to a year.

Hankunamatata · 10/10/2025 13:07

Saved to cover the shortfall before hand

UnicornLand1 · 10/10/2025 12:41

Honestly, I think the maternity pay/conditions in this country are pathetic in comparison to other EU countries, especially if we take in the account the plummeting birth rate. Now, in most of Europe, you get 100% paid 1 year of maternity leave + some type of benefit when the child is born + another benefit for 2-3 years of the child's life, if you want to stay at home or nursery/nanny subsidy. In some countries you don't even have to work when you're pregnant from 3 months on as long as you get the doctor's certificate. But just like the others have said, yes, you'd need to save the money here in order to have a child... very offputting, isn't it?

SJM1988 · 10/10/2025 12:09

Saved up and budgeted.
If you've always worked surely you have savings and thought about that in the future.

SantaArt · 10/10/2025 12:06

PeonyPatch · 09/10/2025 22:27

Not everyone is in a position to save though - some people are earning just enough to cover rent/mortgage and bills.

If someone cannot save AT ALL on their normal wage how on earth will they afford paying for a baby and everything they need?

stackhead · 10/10/2025 12:03

I saved. It took 5 years to save for the next one (i'm the breadwinner), and for our 1st DD I went back at 6 months as it made sense financially (DH took shared parental for the next 3 months).

Why should the state support your decision to have children? You know how much your company/the state offers. Fund the difference.

Kitchenbattle · 10/10/2025 12:01

NoMonNoFunx · 09/10/2025 22:05

What do you All do after 9 months when maternity Pay stops and you want to take the year.
am I being unreasonable to think we should get paid for the year.
I’ve always worked.

Saved money specifically to cover for that time period.

BrightSpark10 · 10/10/2025 12:00

Save… save while planning to be pregnant. I know it’s easier said than done but going on mat leave we know whether OH salary will be able to keep us afloat for the last 3 months 🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️
Although my old company had full pay mat leave for a year (it was finance company but hugely male dominated, so they beefed up their mat pay to attract and keep women in that business)

passmeaglass · 10/10/2025 11:56

Do you get any benefits from your employer like car allowance as that will continue past the 9 months. Otherwise you could take a chunk of annual leave like someone else suggested so you start getting paid again without going back to work. That should cover a month’s pay.

Purpleturtle45 · 10/10/2025 11:37

A lot of people can't take the year off. I have 3 kids and had to go back after 9 months with them all.

Bushmillsbabe · 10/10/2025 11:17

Merryoldgoat · 09/10/2025 23:11

This isn’t legal if you receive SMP only and an employer doing this is doing so illegally.

It may be possible if you get occupational maternity pay.

It may be beneficial for tax if you are a higher rate payer depending on when your maternity leave starts as you may straddle tax years and lower your effective annual salary but this depends wholly on when you go on leave.

Show quote history

Yes, I meant the OMP part stretched across the 12 months, and yes it works best when across tax years.

Merryoldgoat · 09/10/2025 23:11

Bushmillsbabe · 09/10/2025 22:35

Another option is you can I think ask to have your maternity pay as 12 equal monthly payments, rather than more at beginning and nothing at end. Someone said this works out better from a tax perspective, not sure if that's true though

Edited

This isn’t legal if you receive SMP only and an employer doing this is doing so illegally.

It may be possible if you get occupational maternity pay.

It may be beneficial for tax if you are a higher rate payer depending on when your maternity leave starts as you may straddle tax years and lower your effective annual salary but this depends wholly on when you go on leave.

Bushmillsbabe · 09/10/2025 22:35

Another option is you can I think ask to have your maternity pay as 12 equal monthly payments, rather than more at beginning and nothing at end. Someone said this works out better from a tax perspective, not sure if that's true though

surprisebaby12 · 09/10/2025 22:32

Yes I absolutely think mothers should be supported to take 12 months off with at least living wage

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