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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if anyone's survived on statutory maternity pay?

29 replies

Lemur98 · 07/03/2025 15:42

My new job offers it, as far as I know it's 90% earnings for 6 weeks? Just wondered if anyone is on or has been on it, and how you managed? How much leave did you take?

OP posts:
JacquesHarlow · 07/03/2025 15:44

..."and while you're there, list your outgoings, the area you live in , if you have a wealthy household, other caring responsibilities, additional benefits or supplementary income".

😑

Worried861 · 07/03/2025 15:44

I used 2 months of statutory because my employer offers 6 months full pay first. I did save for it though and had husbands earning as well. I then used 8 weeks leave so had about 10 months off

Waitingwaitingwaiting33 · 07/03/2025 15:46

i did and I did take 12months off. We were fortunate that my husband is a high earner though and we saved a lot beforehand!

abnerbrownsdressinggown · 07/03/2025 15:47

I took a year and saved the equivalent beforehand to cover the drop in joint income.

Kuretake · 07/03/2025 15:51

I certainly couldn't have survived on just that. I saved a lot up before it. No income from husband so it was tricky but I did a year.

Inmydreams88 · 07/03/2025 15:51

Technically I did. Although my outgoings were very low and we had a significant amount of savings prior to getting pregnant for this reason.

MerryMeet · 07/03/2025 15:52

Yes - exclusively BF, secondhand everything.

Gnarab24 · 07/03/2025 15:55

I did but it’s wasn’t comfortable and was also 16 years ago.
I had savings from an inheritance (about 6k) that I used and got an unexpected tax rebate at the time as well.
I did live with my
DD’s dad at the time so didn’t have rent or a mortgage to pay but ex didn’t provide any other financial support.
I took the full year and used KiT days after 9 months to maintain some income then.

Redpeach · 07/03/2025 15:59

Never had it

Watfrordmummy · 07/03/2025 16:01

I did but that was 25 years ago, was thought and was only off for 4 months in total and then went back full time.

TheNinkyNonkyIsATardis · 07/03/2025 16:02

I was fine on Maternity Allowance, which is even less than Stat, due to changing jobs whilst pregnant.

But then our income was essentially equal salaries, and one salary was Bills+800. So one person covered the bills and the other got the stat pay, and when MA ran out, we saved to cover the difference for the last three months/used holiday.

dafa · 07/03/2025 16:05

Yes we did, tried to saved as much before hand to cover the short fall in bills. I think I had about 10 months off in the end.

This was 6 years ago when we were in rented accommodation, a lot cheaper. My husband isn’t a high earner, neither was I at the time. Prob both around high 30s.

I don’t know if I could do it now with a mortgage and more outgoings.

tealandteal · 07/03/2025 16:09

Statutory maternity pay is the first 6 weeks: 90% of their average weekly earnings ( AWE ) before tax. the remaining 33 weeks: £184.03 or 90% of their AWE (whichever is lower). This is all I had with my first baby but we did have another wage in the house. I had 13 months off.

Cinai2 · 07/03/2025 16:13

Self-employed here, currently surviving on maternity allowance from day 1 (but no complaints it’s the employment I chose). The trick is to safe enough beforehand, I don’t think anyone in London can survive on £180/week. DH and I paid £250 per month each into my maternity pot, plus any extras that came our way.

Picklepower · 07/03/2025 16:14

Yes I did, took a year off and then we moved area so resigned and got a new job when DD was about 18 months

OhHellolittleone · 07/03/2025 16:23

I managed… on my husbands salary. I think if you don’t have any ‘normal’ outgoings such as rent and bills then it’s possible, but other than that it much less than minimum wage, so no, it needs to be supplemented by a partners salary or by benefits. Edit to add - or savings.

chocomoccalocca · 07/03/2025 16:48

I did it twice and had 13 months the first time and 11 months the second. The first I left my job as they couldn't accommodate the hours I wanted so got a new job and the second I had a job that didn't pay above stat. DH had a good salary and we just adjusted, we knew we could cover all our expenses from his salary so we just didn't have as many 'extras'. DC2 was in lockdown too so wasn't any groups etc to do for half of it. I will add between children I had only worked part time and we didn't have to pay for much childcare for DC1 so those things all helped.

Ryeman · 07/03/2025 20:58

Of course people survive on it, how ridiculous.

Purpleturtle43 · 09/03/2025 08:29

Lemur98 · 07/03/2025 15:42

My new job offers it, as far as I know it's 90% earnings for 6 weeks? Just wondered if anyone is on or has been on it, and how you managed? How much leave did you take?

I took about 9-10 months and had to save up before it so I had money for during may leave. We have my husband's earnings too but at that point he didn't earn enough to pay much more information joint account.

unlimiteddilutingjuice · 09/03/2025 08:36

I did.
From memory: I was on SMP for a week or two before DS was born.
Then SMP, Child Benefit and Tax Credits after that. Plus DHs pay.
It was fine.

I went back to work when the SMP ran out. That was 9 months, I think.

I think it's unlikely you'll be on just SMP. You've either got another wage coming in. Or you'll be entitled to some other benefits. Have a play around with a benefit calculator and see what else you're entitled to.

AutumnScream · 09/03/2025 08:40

Yes i did for 9 months, no savings and im doing it again this summer. Its awful surviving on about £600 a month. Everything is second hand and my outings have to be free/enough to just use train fare. Miserable.

Greensaysgo · 09/03/2025 08:50

Yes, I did. Shared bank account with DH and all money was paid into there. We just shared all our finances. Couldn't have done it if we had a maxed out mortgage, expensive everything etc. We did have to be mindful and some stuff was pre loved, but I love the eco friendly side of reusing, so it was ok!

Xraytime · 09/03/2025 08:51

You can claim UC if it goes low

Powderblue1 · 09/03/2025 08:53

Yes. We saved a lot beforehand and really cut down while on Maternity leave

Notsuchafattynow · 09/03/2025 08:55

We saved up any shortfall in advance. But I was bored out of my mind and went back after 10 months.

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