To think statutory maternity pay should be the same amount as the state pension?

[BridgertonToBe]

I don’t have children, probably never will. But I do think SMP is shockingly low, and if the government is really worried about the birth rate they should look at this.

Many women on maternity only get SMP and no enhanced package from their employer. It’s current set at a maximum of £187.18 a week for 39 weeks. If mothers want to be off for 52, it will be unpaid.

The new state pension is £230.25 a week. While those on maternity may have a partner to support them, they probably won’t have any other income while many pensioners also have a private pension alongside the SP.

AIBU to think that if £230.25 is needed by all pensioners over 66 for a basic standard of living (who probably have less outgoings than a young family), SMP should be the same?

If we can afford to pay the state pension to every pensioner for the rest of their lives out of NI, we can afford to support new working mothers birthing and raising the next generation of workers for a short amount of time. The financial hit is a big deterrent for people having children. I also think SMP should be paid from birth until the child’s first birthday.

Well that is not the point of the thread but it seems you want to put generations against each other. I said they should be equalised if the SP amount is seen as the amount needed for basic living.

I’m not going to derail the thread by pointing out the many things you have said that are wrong.

Having a child is a choice. Reaching state pension age happens to everyone who didn't die before 67.

And yet very many women these days do take a full year off work so presumably they can a) afford it and b) prioritise more time off than returning after 9 months and getting their salary back

Yes it’s a choice many are now opting out of (see the declining birth rates across the West). And this will have serious consequences in the not too distant future.

I think you’re absolutely right, although I’ve never thought about it before. New parents often still have mortgages to pay etc. The maternity leave has definitely improved but it is still really difficult to manage. We didn’t have a 3rd because we simply couldn’t afford it.

As for pensioners living the life of luxury, I don’t think that’s true for everyone. But I do think they’ll be far better off than the generations in their 30’s/40’s now. My parents (2 sets as divorced) have made an absolute killing on their properties. Retired at 55 on fantastic pensions and earn more now than they did working. My NHS retiring age has increased to 68 years.

Not unreasonable. I know so many women who had to go back before they were ready because of SMP.

I don't think women should go back before a year tbh (unless they're really bored!). I was still breastfeeding on demand with mine at that point, and my childminder wouldn't take under one. Your body is still also making a recovery!! Those saying you get nursery from 9 months, so what? Wouldn't it be better to give women the choice?

For mumsnet as well - What's with all this "they have a partner earning a wage"?? I thought we all agreed depending on a man financially was a pretty dumb plan.

I don’t really understand why you’re making a comparison with pensioners. Benefits clearly aren’t equal as evident by jobseekers aged 25+ who only get £92.05 per week to live on.

Presumably people also have a 'choice' to build up a decent pension in their working lives rather than rely on state pension only?

Presumably that is to ensure they can survive, whilst focusing their minds on getting a job, rather than making it possible for them to stay on job seekers forever

Well jobseekers alone is pretty rubbish. However, people may also be eligible for Universal credit, council tax reduction and other benefits alongside it. Alone, it is pretty low. I suppose the argument is jobseekers should be trying to find immediate work, whereas new mothers are taking time to look after their newborn baby so they have this ‘protected’ time to do so without financial worry.

Not paying into proper pension provision for yourself is a choice. Everyone knows state pension only isn't enough - they had their whole lives to plan. They also have the choice to continue working- there is no longer a compulsory retirement age.

YABU OP - only in that maternity provision should be MORE generous than the state pension. After all, there's a mother AND baby involved. But YANBU to make the point more generally.

YABU , the country is already financially strained and presumably you can get CB as well

How about Carer’s Allowance, should that be increased too?

I can’t believe the people saying smp is fine - it’s awful. I’m a teacher and our MAT pay is rubbish. My partner works has an okay salary but we’re hardly high earners and I was shocked by how little we had, then I had to use savings and the credit card just to survive and believe me we didn’t do anything flashy.

I did take the entire year. But a lot of workplaces, civil service and some nhs get 6 months full pay while we get two weeks.

Some paternity packages in the private sector are better than th maternity smp nowadays. This is good but does show that maternity pay is poor imo.

I think it needs a shake up and needs to be higher. and kit days cost because you have to pay childcare so I basically did about three.

You do get paid more for the first couple of months but yes it would be nice to get a higher amount. I guess it's because likened to not being employed so the responsibility has been taken away from employers amd put into the government paid sphere.

As this has become the norm all we can do is try to save to compensate for the shortfall or go back early. Unless of course very fortunate financially. Xxx

Totally different things.
the people getting state pension have paid in many many years, far exceeding what they have put in.

if you decide to have a child, you need to factor in funds.

pensioners fully deserve the pittance they get after paying in for 40-50 years.

have a child? Pay for it yourself, don’t get me started on the benefit scroungers that have there life paid by us tax payers…

Then they should get a bloody job! Many jobs out there for folks that want to work…

Yes definitely. If a cater is saving the state a fortune by caring for someone themselves, it should be more than the measly amount it currently is.

Er yes, I do realise, what’s your point?

Vote for Reform then. They plan to tax the childless, I'm sure that will fund the extra to pay for 3 plus children to generational unemployed and the immigrants (that Reform don't want but don'tsee the irony in their policies).

The people who aren't having children because they can't afford to are the ones who are stuck renting places with no space for a child, don't get and won't get any Universal Credit and don't see the point in having children that they pay someone else to raise 40 hours a week and barely see them. Think the common name is Millenials /Zennials.

You are incorrect. Most people will take out far more than they ever paid in. NI pays for many benefits including today’s pensions and the NHS.

I’ll say it again - today’s children will be paying for your pension tomorrow. We need society to have children.

Benefit scroungers? There are still people who buy into that narrative?

So you’re happy to may more tax and NI to fund all this?

Do you realise how much care costs the state? It would actually be cheaper to make carers allowance a reasonable amount than have the state pay for carers.

We are a million miles away from 'if no one has babies'. People should be preparing in advance for parenthood through savings and the right choices e.g. some might have to have 6 months mat leave instead of 12 or might only be able to have 1 child instead of 3. Old age isn't a choice we can make and we've paid for our pension throughout our lives.