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!

My mum had me when she was at uni. When her marriage ended she came back to her home town. We lived in a homeless unit for a while and then moved in with my mum's parents. My mum then tried to get a council house and was told no because my dad who had never lived in our area might want a house here -then she was told by a housing officer that if she fucked him she would get a house

The reason that I am not down on single parents who get UC. Is because of how he hard my mum had it

No UC back then. If there had been life would have have been easier

My dad has another family he cares and provides for btw -just not us. He's rich and he got away with paying my mum 2 quid a week

Mainly if they have a disabled child or disability or high rent. Mainly disability though.

So if UC helps lift people out of poverty. I applaud it. Better than my rich feckless cunt of a dad who didn't care about me and let my mum struggle knowing she was struggling -He just walked away from us.

Btw. I didn't mean to offend anyone. This thread has just touched a raw nerve

Btw. I got in touch with my dad when I was 16 and he told me to fuck the fuck off as he has another family. So he really didn't care on every level

Night

what do you mean, why?
Because the working mums need to be working to pay for the UC mums’ UC. That’s why.

Doubt they pay enough tax to cover it.

Agree

Or both

Take a second year off and make a UC claim if you're convinced it's a better deal.

So if you have a job to go back to your children are less important than those of a mum on UC?
what a pathetic, ill thought out argument

@PollyBell hence the OP’s question 🤦🏼‍♀️

Don't you think it's just easier to live and let live

I'm completely sick of benefits bashing. And btw. I bet not every mum on UC sits and does nothing until their child turns three

Smacks of. I'm superwoman. I did three jobs when my child was ten weeks old and and went to uni and meal prepared. Good for you. Some women don't have supportive partners

No one said that. The OP has a job and a supportive partner. Many women don't

But this is Mumsnet where everyone has two parents and good jobs and a lovely life where people on UC are looked at as scum. Even if they work

The circumstances are differerent. The employed person has a job to go back to. An unemployed person doesn't. I think the present system is perfectly fair and very generous

Many people on UC are in work. You know that, right?

ODFOD

Simply wouldn’t work for businesses - keeping a job open for two years, trying to keep the role filled with temp hires etc And not to be an AI bore, but many jobs will transform in two years, not being present to learn the skills needed would be so detrimental to the individual. Yet another headache for working mums looking to take time out.

I know. I was responding to the suggestion that what England does, everyone should do. I don’t agree.

You too have the option on going on a lower income and staying at home with your baby.
I really don't get the, 'if I'm suffering in this way, everyone else should too.
When I was a single mother with my first,
No way I could've worked until my daughter was 4,
Simple as that
First 3 years she was constantly having colds and that meant nursery kept calling me and I was only studying so college and university was a lot more understanding than work would've been.
I had zero support from family or anyone else.
When she started reception She started breakfast club and after school club so was able to work between the hours of 9-5.
Luckily by then she barely had a day of school.
So whereas you have the option to quit work and become a single mother
I certainly did not have the ability to work

Ok but then that would mean that the 2 years were at UC rate which would usually be lower than company ML pay. And you'd get less if your partner works

So would you be happy with that?

Unnecessary sarcastic response.
For those people who are solo parenting without support, I really feel for them.
Important to acknowledge that there are people who choose to have children and claim uc as single parents whilst being supported by the state. Very important that there is a welfare state to support those in need.
I am aware of several people claiming to be single parents when in reality, they are cohabiting, thereby abusing the system.
I am friendly with a lady who has had 3 children, claiming uc as a single parent, whilst the children's father has a separate residence. M
Let's not pretend this isn't happening.
As OP has said, this isn't a benefit bashing thread, it's about the differences in maternity leave.
I think that's a reasonable point.

I suppose it depends in the cirumstances.

It quite literally is a community service, these children are your future taxpayers who will pay your state pension one day. No children = no state pension. And that’s just one benefit to the community.

I think you are very lacking in comprehension skills... If you're getting thousands in benefits then you should be taxed on them is what that poster is saying. So you don't agree with that? That's fine. But again....the poster wasn't talking about you.

It should be a set amount per person. No extras such as housing. Easier to administer.

Ok. But children of benefit parents should not be given an option of benefits. After all you and many others say they will be tax payers.