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AIBU?

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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:
AudacityBaby · 14/07/2021 15:19

@navigatingadolescence No idea. Sadly I'm not able to have babies and find out. Grin

Original poster
newmummy21 · 14/07/2021 15:19

@AColdDuncanGoodhew

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 😂

Oh that sounds hard! And to leave two babies to go to work instead of just one, bless you. I'm already dreading it! But also looking forward to adult chat Smile

OP posts:
Chocolatebuttercream · 14/07/2021 15:20

@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.

Not for teachers.
ineedaholidaynow · 14/07/2021 15:21

Some companies pay SMP then give you a bonus if you return, that is what my company did. They reduce the bonus if you go back part-time, and I then had to use that to cover the pension payments for the additional leave period.

NavigatingAdolescence · 14/07/2021 15:29

Not for teachers.

Teachers don’t get annual leave in the same way as other workers.

Original poster
newmummy21 · 14/07/2021 15:30

@Vetyveriohohoh

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

I deducted the 20% government tax free childcare amount from it

OP posts:
Original poster
newmummy21 · 14/07/2021 15:31

Yes I'll be supplying food and nappies I would assume? That's just my assumption though, I didn't ask to be honest!

OP posts:
Chocolatebuttercream · 14/07/2021 15:31

@NavigatingAdolescence

Not for teachers.

Teachers don’t get annual leave in the same way as other workers.

No you're right. Actually in Scotland teachers do accrue holiday pay as they are paid for holidays. In England they are not, so they don't. But anyway I am at risk of derailing the thread, which was not my intention so apologies.
Vetyveriohohoh · 14/07/2021 15:31

I assumed 38 a day was after 20% reduction? I would seriously double check there’s not extra hidden fees. My DC1 nursery was more than that 10years ago (again not in a city etc)

Vetyveriohohoh · 14/07/2021 15:33

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

WhySoSensitive · 14/07/2021 15:34

Missing the point here but - £32 a full day at nursery?
Please tell me which nursery you use please because I’m also in the north east and the cheapest within 50/60 minutes travel for a full day is £54!!

MyDcAreMarvel · 14/07/2021 15:36

I really don’t understand why your partner has to take extra shifts to make up the shortfall. £1800 net as a household income with just one baby would be fine in the North East.

Superfoodie123 · 14/07/2021 15:36

It's really great actually. That's my normal wage

Original poster
newmummy21 · 14/07/2021 15:37

@Vetyveriohohoh

I assumed 38 a day was after 20% reduction? I would seriously double check there’s not extra hidden fees. My DC1 nursery was more than that 10years ago (again not in a city etc)

No. £39 a day or £164 for the full week is their usual price - 20% gov deduction on top of that. I mean I'll double / triple check - but I've had a few conversations with them about the costings so I'm pretty sure.

OP posts:
Original poster
newmummy21 · 14/07/2021 15:37

@WhySoSensitive

Missing the point here but - £32 a full day at nursery? Please tell me which nursery you use please because I’m also in the north east and the cheapest within 50/60 minutes travel for a full day is £54!!

Happy to PM you the name Smile

OP posts:
WowStarsWow · 14/07/2021 15:37

£39 for a whole day (10 hours) is £3.90 per hour, which barely covers one staff member at minimum wage with the ratio of 1 person to 3 babies. How do they cover the rest of their costs? Confused

Original poster
newmummy21 · 14/07/2021 15:38

@MyDcAreMarvel

I really don’t understand why your partner has to take extra shifts to make up the shortfall. £1800 net as a household income with just one baby would be fine in the North East.

We have a lot of outgoings...

OP posts:
ThornAmongstRoses · 14/07/2021 15:38

Mat Pay is definitely a benefit to working for the NHS.

For my second child I opted to have my whole maternity allowance divided into 9 equal payments and I was getting about £1’200 each month.

We put aside £350 a month during my pregnancy which, once maternity pay began, helped to make up for the shortfall and also to allow me to take a further three months off unpaid once my paid 9 months had come to an end.

You are in a very good position OP but as I said, the NHS maternity pay is a good scheme.

But as another poster said, any deduction to the household income can cause problems.

notforonesecond · 14/07/2021 15:38

I too am less bothered about your mat pay (my civil service one was v generous) and more agog at your super cheap nursery.

Ours is £70 a day in south Manchester.

Original poster
newmummy21 · 14/07/2021 15:41

This is from Google

Mat pay - is this "good"??
OP posts:
QforCucumber · 14/07/2021 15:41

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.

Fightingfirewithfire · 14/07/2021 15:42

@newmummy21

Yes I'll be supplying food and nappies I would assume? That's just my assumption though, I didn't ask to be honest!
I'm in the north east also, my nursery ft would be £180 per week full time. That's without any childcare vouchers etc. So for those saying the fees are too cheap, They are average for my area.

Childcare in a more affluent area of the north east however would cost £50 per day as that's what I paid for my first.

Re nappies , yes you will probably need to provide. Some nurseries will add on a cost for them to provide the nappies but most of those I looked at didn't offer that.

Your maternity pay is good, but it's all down to your employer and your pay. I don't work for the NHS but I 'only' lost 500 per month as it 90% for 6 months and then half pay for 3 months.

Like the op you don't know how good it is till you ask others what they get.

Original poster
newmummy21 · 14/07/2021 15:42

For those questioning the nursery cost. I've obviously edited to remove logo of nursery

OP posts:
Dogoodfeelgood · 14/07/2021 15:43

My company is 18 weeks 100% pay then statutory.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 14/07/2021 15:43

I got SMP so yes I think your income is amazing