Statutory may leave worth it?

[Kj160421]

I really don’t know what’s best. I currently work in a nursery that my D3 attends, I’m also pregnant and due in July. I know I won’t be going back to work at the nursery as we can’t afford both children to go full time, so I don’t know whether to take SMP and hope that universal credit will top it up enough to live or to hand in my notice and live just off universal credit for now ?

How much does your do earn, will you be eligible for UC? If your older child is 3 then they’ll either be going to school this year or next year, how long will you be taking on mat leave? If a year then it’ll only be a coupof months maximum they’ll both be nursery so it may be worth keeping your job, you’ll also get funded hours from 9 months as that come in this September.

We are eligible for UC, my child won’t go to school until sept 2026. It’s the time between now and the year if I go back that I’m trying to work out.

But if your baby is due in July and you take a year off then you’ll go back to work July 2026 and it’ll only be 2 months of double nursery fees to cover. You will accrue leave as well to take. I’d stick with your job and take the mat pay.

Don't hand your notice in as you may need to go back. You are better off with the statutory and UC rather than just UC plus they might query why you don't have any maternity pay.

If your maternity pay is enough to mean you don't get universal credit, it means you're better off on maternity pay anyway because of the way universal credit tapers down with earnings.
Don't quit your job just yet

If you take a full year off, you can give notice towards the end (without enough notice!) and you will then be entitled to 5.6 weeks accrued holiday pay in your final pay if you've not taken any.