Page 13 | To think the amount of SMP is entirely unreasonable?

Worrywartandall · 15/08/2024 07:15

YOYOK · 14/08/2024 23:58

Many are eligible though and this helps ensure women and children are warm and fed. So, the state does step in and having children means you get more UC than those who don’t have children. This is, of course, as it should be.

Unfortunately, those just over the threshold are the ones who suffer the most - they earn “too much” to get UC but not enough to live a reasonable quality of life, which is highly problematic.

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Are we not saying the same thing?

Spectre8 · 15/08/2024 07:15

C0rdeliaChase · 14/08/2024 20:43

But why should social care be funded at all? If you can't afford to pay for your own care after a certain point, why should other taxpayers (clue - the children who you didn't want to fund) pay for your care?

NB This is not an opinion that I actually agree with, I'm just being facetious because of @BeaRF75 's ridiculous opinion.

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But noone has said they dont want to pay for children at all they are saying they don't want pay even more when people like OP xome on here wanring more smp or more childcare hours etc.

We already pay for their state education, free free school meals, free travel up to x age then discounted travel, childcare hours, current smp, whatever student loan amount that is never paid back... that is quite a lot already don't you think?

FinalInstructionstotheAudience · 15/08/2024 07:26

SMPWTF · 14/08/2024 18:58

State pensioners aren’t carrying around 25-40 year mortgage terms with crippling interest rates. Carers allowance is shit and could be better, same as jobseekers for those who are genuinely looking for work. Lots of people fall into that bracket who aren’t, though.

Women who are working and have trained hard for their careers shouldn’t face financial penalties or disadvantages over those who don’t have children.

It’s not about the women before us, it’s about the women who come after us. We either accept this as good enough now or we strive for better. It’s not a race to the bottom and your comment is quite regressive. I’m sure many of the ‘predecessors’ you speak about would agree that SMP hasn’t gone up fairly with inflation, what use is it being grateful for what they did 20 years ago. The world is different.

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Many pensions ARE still paying off mortgages
State pension is crap. Should we be banging on about increasing that? No, because this country thinks old people are a waste of time who live in mansions, go on cruises and spend MNetters inheritances
The arguement about bringing up the next generation is disingenuous; that's the point of reproduction. What are you having children for?? Really, what are you having them for? To bring you joy? To provide a new bunch of coders? To keep populating an over-populated, almost dying planet?

xxSideshowAuntSallyxx · 15/08/2024 07:27

SMPWTF · 13/08/2024 15:02

I knew the amount prior to TTC but only now at 6 months pregnant is it actually registering.

£184 a week, and it’s taxed. If it weren’t taxed the amount would be £736 for a 4 week month.

How is this even close to enough?

DH and I earn similarly, respected careers but we’ll never be millionaires. Our household bills for our small semi-detached home are just over one of our whole salaries.

I understand that in the ideal you’d save up for maternity leave, but in practice that’s difficult for most people. The start up costs for preparing for baby are very expensive. We have been lucky to have been gifted a lot of big ticket items but even so the costs still add up fast. I can’t imagine even trying to save anything for a second maternity leave if you’re paying childcare fees for your toddler - probably one of the reasons we’ll be one and done.

I don’t think working people should have to save for years per child they have. Nor do I think people should only have children if they can afford to live on one income, because then we create a society where only either end of the wealth spectrum find themselves in a position to start and grow families.

No wonder couples are having fewer or no children.

Why can’t women be paid at least 50% of their wage? So many companies offer 6-12 months full sick pay, so why are so many still reluctant to meet this offer for parental leave?

What a strange comparison.

You can't help getting sick and usually if you are sick for 6-12 months you are really unwell and unable to work.

Being sick isn't a choice. Getting pregnant is.

lanthanum · 15/08/2024 07:37

In an ideal world, we'd have much higher SMP, much better subsidy on childcare, more staffing in schools, better mental health care available for teens and much higher support for those needing social/nursing care at the end of their lives. However the money has to come from somewhere to pay for all that, and so choices have to be made about public spending.

Of course, enhanced maternity pay comes from the employer's budget. That's up to them to judge whether the benefits of attracting a better field of applicants is outweighed by the costs. It is important to check what is on offer, and if companies realise people are jumping ship or turning down job offers because others are offering a better benefits package, they may be more likely to improve their offer.

Overthebow · 15/08/2024 08:17

lanthanum · 15/08/2024 07:37

In an ideal world, we'd have much higher SMP, much better subsidy on childcare, more staffing in schools, better mental health care available for teens and much higher support for those needing social/nursing care at the end of their lives. However the money has to come from somewhere to pay for all that, and so choices have to be made about public spending.

Of course, enhanced maternity pay comes from the employer's budget. That's up to them to judge whether the benefits of attracting a better field of applicants is outweighed by the costs. It is important to check what is on offer, and if companies realise people are jumping ship or turning down job offers because others are offering a better benefits package, they may be more likely to improve their offer.

Yes I agree with this. I'm also not sure if it's for the tax payer, especially at the moment, to fund a higher amount. Money is needed for a lot of improvements including nhs and education and people don't want to pay higher taxes. It should be for the employer to pay additional maternity pay, and up to the employees to check this when starting. I don't think 6 months pay is too bad for a maternity package, and ideally people would save to add to that if they want a longer maternity leave. There has to be some responsibility on individuals too not everything is down to the government.

theundomesticgoddess39 · 15/08/2024 08:35

Ziggy30 · 15/08/2024 07:03

The biggest problem…

There are people like you, me and plenty of other parents out there with morals work. Therefore we have to plan and make sacrifices when raising a family. Whether that’s returning to work early, not having any extras (skimping on food shops, new clothes, holidays, sky TV, nails done), etc. Most of us have worked since 16 (maybe earlier). I have some enhanced maternity but nowhere near full pay. In theory (and statistically) our children will also grow up to have ambitions to build a career, buy a house, travel etc. We will spend time with them both in play and supporting them learn. Actually contributing positively to society.

Now onto the problem in our country…

On the other hand there are plenty of ignorant and selfish people who choose not to work. They don’t think about saving for their own or children’s future because they think this… “The government will pay me to have 6 kids to 10 potential fathers. Then I am entitled to a 7 bed house, a garden, sky TV, nails done twice a month, drinking, smoking and an all inclusive holiday to Benidorm every year. All because I choose to sit on my arse and not work (except when spreading my legs).”

All because I choose to sit on my arse and not work (except when spreading my legs).”

Disgusting. There is a really interesting debate going on here. No one needs to contribute by typing awful, misogynistic sentences like this. By the way, men are also accountable in sex and the conception of children.

Sawitch · 15/08/2024 08:42

My DD requested a mortgage 'holiday' for 6 months. Would this be an option for you?

Bloom15 · 15/08/2024 10:10

Completely agree OP - so sick of women and children being unimportant

Worrywartandall · 15/08/2024 11:34

Sawitch · 15/08/2024 08:42

My DD requested a mortgage 'holiday' for 6 months. Would this be an option for you?

as an note to everyone reading these do have an Impact on you if you were thinking of a remortgage, it might impact your credit but it is a forbearance measure which is an admittance you can’t make your monthly repayment. Approach with caution