Why is maternity leave from work 1 year but from UC it is 2 years?

[Bucdynovehbkfdg]

this isn’t a benefit bashing thread, I believe that people should claim what they’re entitled too. I just don’t understand why all mothered aren’t entitled to the same amount of time off with their children.

I’m currently on maternity leave, and obviously we have up to a year off work.

i was just wondering why parents in UC don’t have to look for work until their baby is 2?

But why doesn’t the government make maternity leave 2 years, so that all mums can spend an equal time with their children before returning to work?

there’s 30 free hours from 9 months now, so there’s really no excuse mums of UC to not have to look for work at age 1, the age when working mums return to work by?

Obviously I know it would differ between SMP/OMP/unpaid part of mat leave, but even if the extra year was unpaid some working mums would be able to take it!

You can stay off with your child until they're 2, you just won't have a job to go back to (unless your company agrees a sabbatical). People on UC won't have a job to go back to when their child turns 2 either. You still get NI credits when not working with a child beyond the age of 2.

It should be the same for all mothers. I'd be okay with it being a year for both groups.

Op it’s because they can’t make them work and they are no worse off financially I believe women should all be paid there full wages on mat leave supported by government like they pay there own staff. Op it’s a joke they expect women to live on a paltry amount when our costs have just increased whereas the UC will just go up for others they have no incentive to go out to work then they also get the free childcare the government stinks. It’s all backwards.

I completely agree. It is quite hard for small companies when they have someone out for a year. If they were out for 2 years this would be impossible.

If you think the only people annoyed by others children or sneering at parents are childfree, you mustn't have been on Mumsnet long. Not all childfree people hate children, not all parents don't hate children.

nothing to stop you going on UC to get your 2 years @Bucdynovehbkfdg

It’s 3 months for working mothers where I’m at.

People on (non-disability or illness/health related) benefits get 1 year before they’re expected to find work.

These kinds of inequalities aren’t fair, I agree. But I’m still glad I don’t have to rely on benefits.

wtf?! There is no evidence of this and that’s not part of government decision making!

Yes quite. If an employer can manage without the employee for a full two years they will probably not really need them any more. By the time they come back they would be surplus to requirements.

Sigh.

i used to be on UC with my eldest, went back to work before she was 3, studied full time too.

so now I don’t need UC as I’ve worked my way up 🙄.

I had no idea it was the case. Meanwhile, basic maternity leave is still 6 weeks at 90% and then small weekly allowance. In my case, I worked until midnight, contractions started at 2.00am and that’s when maternity leave started. Didn’t even get paid in full on the day I gave birth. And I was back at work within 8 weeks. Zero help.

Who do you think is going to wipe your bottom when you are old and incontinent? Or give you the medical care you need?

Someone else’s child, that’s who.

Who do you think would do it if everyone opted out of that ‘lifestyle choice’?

Nobody.

Let’s have the chat about whether it’s a community service or not then.

Inequality? Are you really arguing you're worse off than unemployed mums on UC?

Just quit your job then?

For my part I'm very happy to have a job.

How is the fact he has Autism relevant? I’m just curious in case there’s something I’ve missed :)

Parents? Your OP said mothers.

Nordic countries have far greater levels of taxation.

It's not inequality. The mother with a job to go back to is absolutely welcome to resign, and be in exactly the same position as the unemployed mother - entitled to UC if income is low enough.

Genuinely interested in how you managed to find and work in new jobs whilst also a full time student and looking after a toddler. As I will be trying to find work whilst reliant on UC with a baby, in the not too distant future...

Maternity leave us 6 weeks ? Where fo you get a year from ?

In the UK women are entitled to a year off work, and SMP/MA are payable for 39 weeks if eligible.

Couldn't cope with a full day.

I think either! I’m trying to convince my partner to do shared parental leave but he doesn’t want to

Edited for accidental duplication.

We have shared parental leave but it's still mostly taken up by mothers. I think even less is taken up by men with each subsequent child.

It is odd, the country wouldn't be able to function at all without women having kids. I'm a single mom of a teenager. Working also. Sometimes me being a parent affects my ability to work effectively. All the guys know I'm a single parent but there's an unspoken firm rule that my responsibility can't spill over and affect work, something I struggle with at times because my situation does exist. So really, its kinda obvious that I own my child and they are seen as my property

I'm on uc and went back to work when baby was 7 months old? And as a single parent?