Maternity pay

[NoMonNoFunx]

What do you All do after 9 months when maternity Pay stops and you want to take the year.
am I being unreasonable to think we should get paid for the year.
I’ve always worked.

Why should the government fund your choices?
You save or use annual leave to bridge the gap.
If you can't afford to be off 12 months you go back to work

Maybe you dont but I did and I know lots of others who have also done same and not planned pregnancies.

But choosing not to use contraception IS planning a baby.

If you and your husband discussed contraception, and decided not to use it then that is the same as agreeing to a baby. No one can be sure they will get pregnant, but the conversation is, “let’s stop using contraception and see if it happens.” Thats what you did. You both agreed to no contraception, and continued having sex - that means a baby could happen.

I don’t know any women (other than a few extreme catholics) who don’t have contraception if they’re in a sexual relationship. The choice to stop using contraception, discussed with their partner, is the conversation and planning to have a baby.

I can understand that accidents happen, and that not everyone would feel comfortable terminating an unexpected pregnancy.

But if you're repeatedly having "accidents", that sounds more like carelessness. And leaving things to chance is also a type of "planning" in itself.

Yes, and took a year or more to actually get pregnant so saved for nest part of two years.

@JasperTheDoll

I don’t believe that you can actually be a fully grown adult but you’ve never heard the phrase, “We’re trying for a baby.” Or “We’re stopping at 2.”

That’s people saying they planned it. They’ve stoping using contraception and they’re “trying” to get pregnant.

Most people returning from mat leave will have accrued annual leave plus will be able to have some income from KIT days and perhaps some income tax refunds.
Most people plan to have a child so will have some chance to save - but there are so many expenses eg the last chance luxury holiday, the bigger car, upfront and top-up nursery places etc.

Because people still need to have babies. OP contributes to the state, as do we all.

If you're going to ask that, do you also ask why should the state support your decision to drink, smoke, eat too much, ride a horse, go skiing, do DIY? All of those things could land you needing medical services, but were choices.

Luckily where I work, I had the choice to spread out my maternity pay evenly over a year, so even though it meant I got slightly less each month, it also meant I didn’t have three months at the end with zero funds coming in. I also saved beforehand so I had money to fall back on if needs be.

Well most responsible people did.

The state does support women to have paid maternity leave. The state also ensures our job protection. They really don’t need to pay any more. If you want longer off then save.

OK, what's your point?

In 2025 it is perfectly possible to avoid pregnancy when you don't want to have a baby.

This is where the phrase "family planning" comes from.

I don't think we should be making public policy on the assumption that most people don't plan their families.

My point is not everyone plans so not everyone has the opportunity to save while they are having scheduled sex to 'try' to get pregnant. Nobody is saying public policy should be made on any assumption. If you know you cant afford to have children then you should take the necessary steps to prevent it happening.

Pregnancies typically fall into two categories; planned and accidental.

The number of people who don’t want kids, can’t afford kids and haven’t discussed kids with their partner who are also not using any contraception isn’t really that high a number.

You and your partner never discussing children or contraception, but never using contraception and then being surprised that you got pregnant are the odd ones out.

Responsible adults plan for children, due to finances, space in the house, emotional availability, needs of current children.

Everyone should plan. There's no excuse not to.

OK, so you are actually advocating that people should plan, you just don't want to call it planning.

If you decide that you can afford a child and to stop taking steps to avoid a pregnancy, that is planning.

See what your partners paternity leave is like. Some companies will give full pay for a time even if the statutory is used up on the other partner. You can then so shared paternity leave

Not of you were never taking steps to prevent it at any point in the relationship though. Some people can't and don't want to use contraception so I wouldn't reallt say they are planning continuously.

I must look into this. I’ve paid taxes all my life & NI.
i feel they can at least give me a measly £184 for until I get my baby off the boob!
i returned to work with my other 3 before the 9 months was up, this time I can’t get baby on to a bottle, no matter how hard I try or I’d be back to work by now.

Some women on here are viscous!

Because they taken enough off me In My working life!!!!

My DD never took a bottle. She just ate food at nursery from 8 months old and made up for it at home. I'm still breastfeeding her now, two years later.

I don’t understand the ‘we should get…’ why should we get one year’s pay? Why not 2 years’ pay or why not just 3 months’?

If the system has changed part way through your maternity leave and suddenly the last three months’ pay were no longer given, then I could see your AIBU but you have presumably known about the amount of pay available since before you went on leave so it is up to you to have decided whether to save for the full year or go back to work after 9 months or sooner.

Of course a year’s pay is over than 9 months’ pay, but then again 2 years’ pay is nice than 1 years’..: so where do we draw the line?

@NoMonNoFunx they use KIT and SPLIT days by doing odd days which get full pay which usually they keep more of because they have not used up their tax free element.

I know you are still breastfeeding but could you do one day a week?

If you've got 4 kids you're already pretty unusual statistically speaking. Average is between 1 amd 2. So policy is not going to be based around your needs.