Maternity leave when a higher earner

[Mushroo]

My partner and I are thinking of TTC at the end of
this year and trying to get my head around how it works.

I am the higher earner and I’m lucky to get 6 months on full pay, 3 months SMP then 3 months unpaid.

The 6 months I’m not on full pay we’re obviously a lot worse off than if my husband was the one not earning.

is this what shared parental leave is for? Could he take off say months 9-12 and I go back to work at 9 months? Would his leave be unpaid or would he get paternity pay?

I’ve read all the documents online and it’s confusing so any practical insight would be really appreciated.

Yes, that’s one of the things it’s for. Whether your husband would be paid or not depends on his workplace’s policies, but I think generally the last 3 months tend to be unpaid. You could just take 9 months? Either you take it all or he takes months 7-9 depending on what’s more advantageous financially.

It’s great for dads to bond more with the baby and also to take a turn running the household while you’re at work. I find it makes them much more appreciative of what you’ve been doing at home in your period of leave! And you’re less likely to become the “default parent” too, which is great if you have a career.

@WowStarsWow thats so helpful thank you! So the last 3 months will probably be unpaid regardless who takes it?

So the best plan is probably i go back to work say month 7, and he takes 2 months at SMP.

You'll probably have some annual leave entitlement built up over your maternity leave that you can use for an extra month or so off paid.

I would have a look at all options. Most people (myself included only took 9months leave. I too received full pay for the first 6 months, and whilst I was pregnant we saved to top up my income to help cover the period while on SSP. As you are TTC you have along time to prepare. You could also see if you would be entitled to UCredit based on your partner's income for the 3months. SSP/unpaid. I had almost a full year's annual leave upon return of mine, so I tagged that into the end of my 9 months leave and so had about 10.5 months off. With the last part being at full pay. This part is especially useful if your company have a change of hours clause after being paid full pay.

I'm the main earner by a long way. I went back to work at the end of enhanced ML which for me was only 16 weeks at half pay. DH could have then taken the remainder of my SMP but for the sake of our marriage the kids went into childcare

It's what we used it for. Same maternity set up - 26 weeks full pay, 13 weeks SMP and 13 weeks unpaid.

First time I took 39 weeks maternity leave (full pay and SMP). I then took 5 weeks annual leave and DH had the last 8 weeks as shared parental.

Second time I've taken 39 weeks maternity leave and 6 weeks leave. DH is having 10 weeks shared parental so we have three weeks off together while I am being paid. This was the plan first time but it was lockdown so there was nothing to do!!

We saved to cover the extra we would need during SMP and unpaid weeks. Depending on the time of year you will get tax rebate - so when I was on mat leave towards the end of the financial year I was getting some back as with SMP I would have overpaid tax already. I also did KIT days during SMP to get a bit extra.

That's our plan as I earn 40% more than my husband does. I'm taking 6 months and then my husband will take 4 months. I only get 4 months full pay but we've put aside enough savings to bump up smp for the other 6 months

I'm the main earner. I only got SMP but my DP got enhanced pay.

I went back at 17 weeks and he then took over until she was a couple of days off 10 months. He also had a month off with me right after birth fully paid. (Due to the number of partners, mostly men, in his organisation doing this they cut back on their parental leave entitlement.)

At a company I later worked at 2 men did shared parental leave I worked with. One took off months 5-9 while the other did months 7-9. Neither of them got enhanced pay.

You need to decide whether you want to use all your holiday or leave some days to take off paid if baby gets sick during their first few months of childcare.

Also when you go back to work to save on childcare costs you should see if your partner can adjust his hours. I know and have met men - some high earners, others self-employed including in trades and others not in either category - who have managed to take a day off in the week which is normally Friday to look after their young children on their own.

Not sure on the shared parental leave bit but get your partner to check his paternity leave policy. My DH got one whole day paid! And the option to take 2 weeks unpaid paternity.

He’s public sector so I think he gets 2 weeks paid paternity but I’ll double check!

Theres so much to think about / plan!