Maternity Finances Help

[lolly033]

Hi all, just some background:

I am currently pregnant with my first child, due next year. I live at home and will be expected to pay half the rent & bills. I will be a single mother and as far as work I will be getting 90% pay for the first 6 weeks & then SMP for the remaining 33 weeks.

I have started saving, but I’m just trying to make a plan and roughly see what I may be entitled to as far as any financial assistance (such as universal credit). While I will be paying rent it’ll be paid to my dad and not an actual landlord, so i’m not really sure whether it’ll be taken into consideration.

If anyone has been in a similar position and can shed some light, or if you have any tips I would be so grateful! Thank you!

Really play the system at work for holiday and accrued holiday. It can make a huge difference to "go back" early but just take paid holiday.

Thank you for replying @FusionChefGeoff ! So depending on how things go towards the end of my pregnancy, I was thinking to book all or most of my 2025 AL for the weeks before maternity leave, but still work some of it so that I have some extra money. I would work maybe 2 or 3 days per week for a few weeks and get paid for that plus the holiday pay. But now what you’ve said sounds good too

Provided you are under the limit in terms of capital etc you should het some UC while on Maternity. You won't get anything towards rent as you're living with and paying to a close relative. However SMP counts as earnings so, with a child, you 'll get a Work Allowance meaning a chunk pf pay, most of it at SMP, will be disregarded.

My advice is try to save annual leave until after your mat leave. When you do return use the accrued leave to phase back to work. 20 days leave is 4 weeks in one block or 4 weeks of 2 days working plus four weeks of 3 days working.