How does anyone survive on SMP?

[AutumnCandle]

Genuine question. My OMP package looks decent up until about 6/7 months, then it’s 9 weeks of SMP alone. I realised lately it’s taxed as well! How do people cope on that? Right now it seems crazy to me. Do you just cut your cloth or is it really miserable?

Local children centres offer some really good, affordable/free classes

Thanks everyone. I know it’s decent I just can’t get my head around it. Surelt it should be more especially if you intend on returning to work.

We saved every single penny we could, cut back on things like nights out, takeaways, etc. DH was able to do overtime too so that all went into the pot. Found out I was pregnant in July (was a surprise!) went on Mat leave at the beginning of February, so carried over quite a bit of annual leave, and accrued leave as well, so was able to extend my leave.

My employer has a decent maternity leave policy so I was very lucky, but it is hard going, especially when you go back to work and end up paying childcare costs. (One of the things we both did shortly after we found out was to contribute to the childcare voucher scheme, accruing that money over a year softened the blow of the cost a little bit)

Thanks. How long did/are you having off?

You’re normally supported by your partner or if he doesn’t earn much or if you’re single you’re topped up universal credit. Usually also in combination with cutting back, using any savings or borrowing

He earns about 30k. Like me. We are just over threshold for entitlement to anything I believe

Depends if you rent or have a mortgage?

We rent, but it’s cheap rent to be fair.
Hoping to buy soon - have the deposit it’s just not the right time and nothing on the market in our area

You will probably be eligible for UC while you're on SMP, then. Try an online calculator like entitledto or Turn2Us.

You add the savings you saved when preparing to conceive. If possible, of course.

Yes depends if you rent then may be able to get some help. We had a mortgage and not eligible for any help so started pooling our finances and went back to work when SMP ended, also did KIT days which topped us up a bit. Tax rebate for not having earned as much helped too. We were on a bit of a deficit but got by.

I'm due next year and I only get 3 months full mat pay! In a senior management position too which is, frankly, shocking. But hey ho, I didn't want to wait.

In answer to your question, a bit of everything. Topping up SMP with savings, partners income and then only spend what we can afford at the time. I'm hoping to take the year, the final 3 months are completely unpaid.

I’ve skimmed the thread and basically what others have said. Save up, go back to work early. You can also accrue annual leave on maternity so I had about 5 weeks full pay annual leave at the end of mat pay. Most employers allow you to do that.

I remember my mum saying, only last year, ‘that’s a lot of money’ when referring to SMP. I laughed so hard. She’s not a pauper btw, anything but, just extremely out of touch with what things cost!

And also don’t buy baby things brand new of you can help it. Second hand is your friend here.

You save, then pay yourself each month out of those savings.

Why should it be more if you're intending to return to work? I genuinely don't understand your logic.

You're going to get a nasty shock if you ever find yourself on statutory sick pay - people struck down by illness are expected to cope on much less.

I saved through pregnancy, dp contributed more and I we t back to work part time after 6 months. I am self employed, so SMP only.

We do not have any.

You save up, make cutbacks, and go back to work. Your package seems decent.

I don’t qualify for any maternity pay with my next baby, due May. I’m screwed, and will have to go back to work v early. To help a tiny bit, DH will take paid hols instead of paternity leave.

That's really good - I was on SMP the whole time. We managed - cut right back, DH salary, savings, credit card. Went back to work on higher salary after 9 months so it all worked out in the end.

Saved and cut my cloth.

Worked out the total take home over 9 months/ 1year of maternity and then worked out how much I needed to make ends meet and planned to save accordingly between us. I then kept to a budget. Meant I didn't have a big drop between OMP and SMP and standard of living was the same throughout.

Lots of women time their return to work around the time their pay drops to smp. If you add your annual leave and save up a bit you will still have a chunk of time off to physically recover

I got maternity allowance with both of mine as was self-employed both times. That’s just the SMP statutory amount from day 1. It made sense for me to take as long as possible because nursery was £1000 a month, so actually being paid £600 ish a month to be at home wasn’t too bad, but paying £1000 to go to work when, back then, I wasn’t making a whole lot more meant we were actually better off me doing the childcare. No shared parental leave either.

You're very lucky to have the enhanced package you do! I have been SMP only and DH and I have just managed - he's on a good salary and we have a low mortgage.
Problem is we would love to have another but need to move for space, I would still be SMP only as my workplace doesn't care and I'd have a baby already in crèche. I'm not sure how we would manage.

You marry a rich husband, of course!

I hope you sense my sarcasm. But seriously, the whole regime isn't fit for purpose. It seems predicated on the idea that there's a man earning the lion's share, while the wife's income is just a little top-up, so the government will throw a few coins your way while you're on maternity leave. And why on earth allow 12 months' leave but only pay for 9?

Totally out of touch with the fact that so many women are contributing significant amounts to the family income, let alone equal to or more than their partners!