Is there any way I can make money on Mat leave?

[bells2810]

I’m due to go on maternity leave in January and will be claiming Maternity Allowance as I just missed the threshold for claiming SMP from my employer (I’d changed jobs shortly before getting pregnant and haven’t worked at my new role long enough to claim SMP). My salary will be more than halved once I’m on MA, my partner works full time but gets paid the National Living Wage, with the cost of living crisis, we are managing at the moment but I’m really worried about what will happen once I’m on maternity leave with such a big reduction in my pay.

We had been saving since we found out we were pregnant but have unfortunately had to dip into our savings for some expensive structural renovations and damp proofing in our house before baby comes, which has taken a big chunk out of what we’d hoped to have to fall back on during my mat leave. I had spoken to citizens advice who told me not to worry as I’d be entitled to benefits, when I’ve looked on the turn2us benefits calculator it said my only entitlement was the £20 a week child benefit.

I was wondering if anyone has any experience or tips of ways to make money whilst on maternity leave? I wish I was crafty/artistic and could set up a business selling my own products but sadly I’m not. Once baby is here I know I will be focused on looking after her but I really wish there was something I could be doing to bring in some extra cash. If anyone has any tips or experience I’d be really grateful to hear about it.

I would check the benefits calculator again. I saw something about being able to claim universal credit whilst on maternity leave so I had a look. My partner brings home around £2000 a month and we were eligible for universal credit above and beyond child benefit.

You could do self employed work but couldn't take on a new job.

I don't understand your timings for SMP. If you'd had a period after starting your new job then you'd qualify (pregnancy is counted from the 1st day of your last period) as you need to have worked for 26 weeks by the time you're 25 weeks pregnant.

Also I would check the rules on MA payments. Whilst claiming SMP you can't be in paid work.

Have a look at this thread for ideas
www.mumsnet.com/talk/legal_money_matters/4667523-earn-ps10-a-day-new-and-ongoing-thread?page=1

Actually I might be wrong about self employed work on MA

You can do self employed work on SMP but not sure about MA

Have a look at matched betting. I wish I'd started on maternity leave but I've been doing it since 2019 and made a decent amount. Look at Team Profit who provide training videos and a free service to get you started. They also have a Facebook group for newbies. It sounds like a scam/gambling, but it's actually risk free. Trust Pilot also have lots of reviews to help reassure you.

MA is classed as a government benefit so you can't do additional work on it, unlike SMP.

Are you planning on claiming UC? As if you are UC will deduct your maternity allowance pound for pound.

I'm happy to help do a calculator for you. It's such a difficult situation

How long are you planning to be on maternity leave?

I did matched betting on both my matleaves made about 4k each time.

I’d be amazed if you didn’t qualify for UC unless you have considerable savings or other assets which disqualify you, given your partner is on NLW. Use the calculator on Turn2Us and use your Maternity Allowance income figure

Yes I’d been told I would qualify for UC by citizens advice but when I did the benefits calculator (as though I was already on MA) it only came back with the weekly £20 child benefit which I was a bit shocked by. I might go into citizens advice and speak to someone in person because it doesn’t seem quite right to me.

It'll be because MA is counted as income and is deducted from the UC amount whereas SMP isn't.

Are you definitely sure you don't qualify for SMP?

What's your dhs shared parental leave policy like? If his is more generous than yours could you share leave?

I just missed the threshold for claiming SMP from my employer (I’d changed jobs shortly before getting pregnant and haven’t worked at my new role long enough to claim SMP)

If you started before falling pregnant then I'd recheck this.

I had only worked for my employer for 24 weeks by my qualifying week (15 weeks before due date) so just missed out on SMP unfortunately!

I will have to see how long I can manage on MA, I had hoped for six months but it may be four months.

The only issue is that pregnancy is counted from the 1st day of the last period so if OP didn't have a cycle/period in the new job then she'd be counted as pregnant before she started.

I have asked her to clarify this though just in case she is entitled to SMP

I'm assuming they don't offer enhanced pay as some companies will offer that even if you don't qualify for SMP

Following as I'm in the exact same situation. I'm only eligible for MA, my partner earns £160pw and according to the benefits calculator we're only entitled to child benefit and around £6pw Universal Credit. No idea how we're going to manage.

Could your partner take shared parental leave, if they will be eligible for SMP, and you work? Might work out better financially.

No I didn’t have a period in my new job, I found out I was pregnant a couple of weeks after I started. I work for the NHS so their maternity leave policy is quite strict.

I had the same. Missed by four weeks- but they told me in the portal with no notification so I found out when my first maternity pay didn't come. 🤬

While you currently have income you might consider a personal loan now to bridge that time when it comes. If you go for one once you start leave, you won't get it.

You might be able to get the sure start grant which is 500 but just a one off

Remember that your (paid) annual leave accrues during Mat leave so depending on when your annual leave year runs to and the policy on carrying over leave you may be able to take 4 months May leave followed by annual leave to give you longer (paid) time off.