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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Mat pay - is this "good"??

305 replies

newmummy21 · 14/07/2021 13:02

Just wanting to gauge what's typical, I guess, as this is the first time I've been on mat leave so I have no idea what's normal.

I usually earn 2,600 net in my job. Currently on mat leave and have lost £800 a month so taking home only 1,800 whilst on mat leave. This is a significant loss to our household income and my partner is having to do a lot of overtime to make up the shortfall. We also had to save like mad during my pregnancy to cover this, so we didn't struggle.

I mentioned this to a friend recently and she said "my god that's amazing mat pay, you have no idea how lucky you are, I had next to nothing... " etc,

So... is losing £800 a month really "amazing" for mat pay?? Confused

OP posts:
Original poster
newmummy21 · 14/07/2021 15:43

@QforCucumber

tbf *@MyDcAreMarvel* we are in the NE, have a joint net income of £3300 and with full time nursery, mortgage, afterschool for the big one and other outgoings it's bloody tight.
Exactly
OP posts:
CrouchEndTiger12 · 14/07/2021 15:44

3 months full pay and SMP after that.

QforCucumber · 14/07/2021 15:45

@newmummy21 I hope your leave is going well!

my mat pay was shit compared to yours but we got through, nursery fees here calculate down to around £35 a day after tax free childcare etc too so I can well believe it. They provide all meals but we have to provide nappies, wipes and formula milk :)

Original poster
newmummy21 · 14/07/2021 15:45

@Vetyveriohohoh

Most private nurseries provide all good- check they aren’t going to add on another £5+ a day for that. Don’t want you to get a surprise

I'll ask the question specifically! Thank you

OP posts:
Katela18 · 14/07/2021 15:45

I ordinarily take home £2200 per month, during maternity I was on statutory the whole time which amounted (at the time 2 years ago) to around £600 pm. So yes, that is amazing

BlueSurfer · 14/07/2021 15:49

Goodness I’m jealous of your nursery fees. £500 would just about cover a week (£94 per day) here.

Dogoodfeelgood · 14/07/2021 15:50

A friend of mine works in tech and it’s 100% pay plus 80% of what your usual commission based bonus would be, for a year! Shock

Itsprobablynotcominghome · 14/07/2021 15:50

Anything else you need to get a reality check on OP?

Loaf of bread, pint of milk?

Original poster
newmummy21 · 14/07/2021 15:55

@Itsprobablynotcominghome

Anything else you need to get a reality check on OP?

Loaf of bread, pint of milk?

😂
Yeah. Loaf is around a fiver isn't it? 🙄

OP posts:
Original poster
newmummy21 · 14/07/2021 15:56

Honestly you can't ask a simple question on here without people showing up to have a dig. It's good job I'm finding it amusing rather than anything else Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
newmummy21 · 14/07/2021 15:58

@Dogoodfeelgood

A friend of mine works in tech and it’s 100% pay plus 80% of what your usual commission based bonus would be, for a year! Shock

Yikes! Seems the NHS isn't so generous after all ..... Grin

OP posts:
Dentistlakes · 14/07/2021 16:03

I would say it’s pretty good op. I got 6 weeks at 90% and statutory after that, but also got my car allowance as that was seen as a benefit. If you get more than the minimum beware if you aren’t planning on going back (I assume you are from what you’ve said op). Some companies have a clause which means you have to return for a certain period of time after maternity leave or you have to pay it back.

Newmumatlast · 14/07/2021 16:04

I only got statutory and nothing else as self employed. On a high income so the drop was huge however I was able to save before so the impact on me in real terms not as much as you but the impact in terms of loss of income was significantly more than £800 pcm

Chocolatebuttercream · 14/07/2021 16:05

It's really interesting that there is so much variation, both in private and public sectors. OP I think people are jealous and although it's not nice, it is a human emotion. For example as a teacher I feel a little jealous that my best friend (who works for a private company, has a very high salary and lots and LOTS of perks, despite working shorter hours than I do), gets a year of maternity leave on full pay. I KNOW it's wrong and ugly to be jealous and I made a choice to be a teacher, and I do love my job, and I'm not even saying that public money should be used to give teachers this kind of perk.

Am I proud of being jealous? No. Would I ever tell her? Of course not. But anonymously here I can say it and I think you are also getting the brunt of this.

TooManyDinosaurs1 · 14/07/2021 16:07

I moved jobs and time wasn't on my side to wait for enhanced pay, so I'm currently over 3k a month down. Enhanced mat pay is full pay 6 months then statutory 3 months where I work but you need to have worked there for over a year, we couldn't wait. We did the sums though and haven't needed to dip into savings yet 4 months in.

SisterBeaverhausen · 14/07/2021 16:08

That's great. I'll be losing about 2k a month as I'll only be on SMA as I've not been in my job long!

Original poster
newmummy21 · 14/07/2021 16:09

@Chocolatebuttercream

It's really interesting that there is so much variation, both in private and public sectors. OP I think people are jealous and although it's not nice, it is a human emotion. For example as a teacher I feel a little jealous that my best friend (who works for a private company, has a very high salary and lots and LOTS of perks, despite working shorter hours than I do), gets a year of maternity leave on full pay. I KNOW it's wrong and ugly to be jealous and I made a choice to be a teacher, and I do love my job, and I'm not even saying that public money should be used to give teachers this kind of perk.

Am I proud of being jealous? No. Would I ever tell her? Of course not. But anonymously here I can say it and I think you are also getting the brunt of this.

This makes a lot of sense but is also a shame. I wonder if people are equally jealous of my struggles with PND and lack of family / emotional support? Unlikely, I'd say. I'd honestly rather be earning half my salary and have my mental health intact right now to enjoy my baby properly. Just shows doesn't it - careful who you want to trade places with. It might not be as rosy as you think Confused

OP posts:
Mama1993 · 14/07/2021 16:09

@newmummy21

Currently cluster feeding my newborn and so have got myself in to a mumsnet hole of reading the replies.

People love to make other people feel shitty even when as you've said you've asked a very simple question... It's a shame we obviously think the worst of each other don't we....

I had SMP both times and my nursery is £63/day before deductions. You're very lucky!

I hope people stop trying to cross examine you soon however I have found it very amusing!!!

Congratulations too

Chocolatebuttercream · 14/07/2021 16:11

@newmummy21 you're absolutely right, everyone has there own difficulties. I had PND too and I am happy to tell you what helped me, if that would be useful, don't want to derail your thread though. I hope you can enjoy your maternity, as an NHS worker you no doubt slog your guts out when at work, so I wish you a very happy maternity with your baby Flowers

Chocolatebuttercream · 14/07/2021 16:12

Urgh their, sorry typo, I'm juggling my contact-napping baby as we speak Grin

Unsoliciteddeckpic · 14/07/2021 16:12

When I had ds I got 6 months full pay. 3 months smp and the last 3 months at zero.

Honestly, didn't feel like I lost anything when I went down to smp. I knew the situation before I got pregnant. I wasn't in work. I was at home with my child.

I think the issue most people have op, is that you knew this was what you got, but seem incredulous that you get paid less than normal, but still a decent wage. You are complaining its a loss, when actually, you are still getting paid a fair amount of money to be at home.

I don't want anymore kids, but at my job I am incredibly well paid. But mat pay works out at about 50% of our pay. Which is why I joined after I had finished having kids. My wage would be eye-wateringly different.

But I still couldn't see how it was a loss.

Mpsister · 14/07/2021 16:13

It's more than some people's full salary and you're not working. What do you expect?

Original poster
newmummy21 · 14/07/2021 16:14

[quote Mama1993]@newmummy21

Currently cluster feeding my newborn and so have got myself in to a mumsnet hole of reading the replies.

People love to make other people feel shitty even when as you've said you've asked a very simple question... It's a shame we obviously think the worst of each other don't we....

I had SMP both times and my nursery is £63/day before deductions. You're very lucky!

I hope people stop trying to cross examine you soon however I have found it very amusing!!!

Congratulations too[/quote]

😂 cross examined is a funny phrase but is definitely how I felt!

Solidarity to you with the cluster feeding Thanks I'm told it gets easier!!

OP posts:
Original poster
newmummy21 · 14/07/2021 16:14

[quote Chocolatebuttercream]@newmummy21 you're absolutely right, everyone has there own difficulties. I had PND too and I am happy to tell you what helped me, if that would be useful, don't want to derail your thread though. I hope you can enjoy your maternity, as an NHS worker you no doubt slog your guts out when at work, so I wish you a very happy maternity with your baby Flowers[/quote]

Thank you, very kind of you Thanks sorry to hear you struggled too x

OP posts:
mutedrainbows · 14/07/2021 16:14

I got 90% for 6 weeks and then SMP for the remainder. So comparatively, yes!

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