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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:
xsjrx · 14/07/2021 15:08

My net is the same as yours. Im very lucky in that I'm entitled to a year off- 6 months full pay, 3 months SMP and 3 months with nothing. I've opted for the 12 months but only applied for 10 months mat, topping up with 2 months annual leave to give 8 months FP. Again I'm very lucky my leave accrues whilst I'm on Mat leave allowing me to do this.

Nursery however will cost us about £1000 a month (Edinburgh).

Original poster
newmummy21 · 14/07/2021 15:08

Wowsers this place is insane 😳

OP posts:
ineedaholidaynow · 14/07/2021 15:08

Teachers maternity pay is still better than most companies and better than SMP

Original poster
newmummy21 · 14/07/2021 15:09

@ineedaholidaynow

Teachers maternity pay is still better than most companies and better than SMP
Oh really? That's why I'm asking really, just to gauge what others' experiences are
OP posts:
Essentialironingwater · 14/07/2021 15:09

I think it's pretty good. I get full pay for 6 months then SMP - I have only been here 6 months so am very lucky they don't require a long length of service. But I'm in the private sector!

Last organisation I got full pay for 10 weeks then SMP but it was a much smaller company.

supersonicsue · 14/07/2021 15:10

I agree with many others (and your friend) that your pay is amazing. I know my daughter, and her friends, who are on maternity leave would be delighted. My daughter's usual income mirrors yours but her maternity pay is less than half yours. So I think you're doing really well,

Original poster
newmummy21 · 14/07/2021 15:10

@xsjrx

My net is the same as yours. Im very lucky in that I'm entitled to a year off- 6 months full pay, 3 months SMP and 3 months with nothing. I've opted for the 12 months but only applied for 10 months mat, topping up with 2 months annual leave to give 8 months FP. Again I'm very lucky my leave accrues whilst I'm on Mat leave allowing me to do this.

Nursery however will cost us about £1000 a month (Edinburgh).

1k is extortionate! 😥

OP posts:
NatMoz · 14/07/2021 15:10

I've not started mat leave yet but I'll get £1900 for 10 weeks, £1500 for 16 weeks, 55 days annual leave (full pay) and SMP for 12 weeks or so.

It's not 6 months full pay but I am definitely not complaining and have saved for the SMP time frame.

Original poster
newmummy21 · 14/07/2021 15:11

Thanks everyone for the (mostly) helpful replies. I guess the consensus is it is pretty good despite the relative quite hefty loss to our household income. I will make a concerted effort to feel more grateful for this and tell my friend she was indeed right!

OP posts:
TiredButDancing · 14/07/2021 15:11

Op, I'm not sure why you're getting people being shocked you didn't know what others get. I worked for an investment bank with very generous maternity leave when I had my DC. I knew it was better than most people got, but it was only when I properly looked into it that I realised how little so many others were getting. I had read the employee handbook when I was hired, taken notice of what they offered and then, 5 years later, took advantage. In the intervening years, I hadn't bothered to make any effort to learn what actual maternity pay was. In fact, it took me years to realise that the 6 weeks 90% is paid by the government, not the employer.

AudacityBaby · 14/07/2021 15:12

@NavigatingAdolescence Just double-checked (I've never actually been on maternity!) and it's 26 weeks full pay, 6 weeks 90%, 13 weeks SMP, then nil from there. So, apologies, I did get it a bit wrong.

NavigatingAdolescence · 14/07/2021 15:13

Again I'm very lucky my leave accrues whilst I'm on Mat leave allowing me to do this.

Legally it has to. For everyone.

Original poster
newmummy21 · 14/07/2021 15:13

Op, I'm not sure why you're getting people being shocked you didn't know what others get.

No, me neither! Why would I research what Joe Public is entitled to on mat leave? Surely I'd just look into and research my own situation prior to going on mat leave, hence me not realising how pants it can be!

OP posts:
ChannelJackieWeaver · 14/07/2021 15:13

I would say it was really good in my experience.

NavigatingAdolescence · 14/07/2021 15:13

[quote AudacityBaby]@NavigatingAdolescence Just double-checked (I've never actually been on maternity!) and it's 26 weeks full pay, 6 weeks 90%, 13 weeks SMP, then nil from there. So, apologies, I did get it a bit wrong.[/quote]
They can’t pay more than 39 weeks SMP. Wonder how that works. 🤔

QforCucumber · 14/07/2021 15:13

@newmummy21 North East here too, small town - a week full time childcare for my 10 month old is a depressing £219.95. They charge £52.50 a day but we get a discount for full time.

am rather envious of your childcare fees.

Have a wonderful maternity leave!

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

@NavigatingAdolescence

Again I'm very lucky my leave accrues whilst I'm on Mat leave allowing me to do this.

Legally it has to. For everyone.

Yes I have 9 months worth of accrued holidays and bank hols to use when I go back too

OP posts:
Vetyveriohohoh · 14/07/2021 15:14

It’ll be 685 ish a month by the way at 50/12. Is it subsidised? Do you need to pay food/nappies on top? Just curious as I’m not in a particularly expensive area and ours is £50ish a day

Crabbypaddy · 14/07/2021 15:15

Yes that’s really good…I got between 1200 & 1400 and thought that was great

NavigatingAdolescence · 14/07/2021 15:15

Yes I have 9 months worth of accrued holidays and bank hols to use when I go back too

Again. Every woman will have because IT’S THE LAW!

Original poster
newmummy21 · 14/07/2021 15:16

@NavigatingAdolescence

Yes I have 9 months worth of accrued holidays and bank hols to use when I go back too

Again. Every woman will have because IT’S THE LAW!

Interesting that I have been painted as the "rude" one when you are basically now shouting at me on this thread. Confused

OP posts:
Original poster
newmummy21 · 14/07/2021 15:17

I tell you what, sometimes this isn't the place for sleep deprived new mummy on the verge of PND! 🙈🙈

OP posts:
AColdDuncanGoodhew · 14/07/2021 15:18

Hope the rest of your mat leave is fab! I was so sad to leave my kids when I went back to work, I had twins, but it was nice to have hot tea and adult chat Grin. I changed jobs while on mat leave from theatre to ICU. Do not recommend 😂

Original poster
newmummy21 · 14/07/2021 15:18

Once again thanks for all the helpful measured responsesSmile

OP posts:
EasterIssland · 14/07/2021 15:19

I used to earn 2.3k when ii was pregnant, then was 9 weeks full salary and after that around 500/month