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Original poster

Universal Credit on Maternity Leave?

14 replies

MiaRosexo · 01/09/2025 09:29

Hi,
Does anyone know much about claiming UC on maternity leave please? We are trying to plan for maternity leave, I am the breadwinner on £46k, my partner earns £31k, unfortunately I'll only be getting SMP, no enhanced. We are saving as much as we can and I've run the figures on a couple of calculators and it states we would get around £130 per month in UC - does this sound right? I know it's not much at all but I've had a few people tell me before we wouldn't get anything as we have a mortgage rather than renting.
Thank you :)

OP posts:
NotEnoughKnittingTime · 01/09/2025 12:35

How many children do you have? How much savings do you have? You can go on Facebook groups and ask for calculations but I think you won't get that much due to your mortgage.

Original poster
MiaRosexo · 02/09/2025 07:56

NotEnoughKnittingTime · 01/09/2025 12:35

How many children do you have? How much savings do you have? You can go on Facebook groups and ask for calculations but I think you won't get that much due to your mortgage.

Edited

I don't have any children, this would be my first, and about £3k saved :)

OP posts:
susey · 02/09/2025 07:59

Go ahead and apply especially if the calculator shows you'll get something. It has to be a joint claim and you'll only get the child element when your child is actually born.

You should also ideally apply after your first low pay packet because they base it on your monthly earnings looking back at the month, but bear in mind there is a five week wait for your first UC payment.

Original poster
MiaRosexo · 02/09/2025 08:02

susey · 02/09/2025 07:59

Go ahead and apply especially if the calculator shows you'll get something. It has to be a joint claim and you'll only get the child element when your child is actually born.

You should also ideally apply after your first low pay packet because they base it on your monthly earnings looking back at the month, but bear in mind there is a five week wait for your first UC payment.

In terms of first low pay packet do you mean when it drops from 90% after 6 weeks? and I didnt know about the 5 week wait so that is useful to know, thank you!

OP posts:
Danikm151 · 02/09/2025 08:05

Apply for it. when you go down to your statutory pay only it will make a difference.
Once you’re earning your normal wage it will stop.
Don’t forget to apply for Child Benefit once baby is born too. That’s £26 per week.

andanotherproblem · 02/09/2025 08:07

Use this it’s very accurate, enter the details as you would in the future, e.g baby is here and you’ve gone from 100% wage to smp, just bare in mind my maternity was actually higher than the calculation as they gave me a little tax back every month, was still under £1000. You can also apply before your money goes down and they’ll just work it out every month to see if you’re entitled (this way is best as can take a few weeks to be verified) https://www.entitledto.co.uk/

Benefits Calculator - entitledto - independent | accurate | reliable | www.entitledto.co.uk

Check what benefit entitlement you are entitled to. The entitledto benefits calculator will check which means-tested benefits you may be entitled to e.g. tax credits, universal credit, housing benefit …

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/

MickGeorge22 · 02/09/2025 08:15

I don't think you would get anything but does depend what your dh's net earnings are and how much your smp would work out to monthly.
You would only be eligible for couples element of £628.10 ( assuming one of you is over 25 ) and child element of £292.81 which totals £920.91.
Assuming your partners earnings ( net) are around 2k and your smp around £500 a month this would give you 2.5k income per month.
2.5 k minus work allowance of £684 = £1816 x 0.55 ( deduction for earnings and smp) = £998.80 which is higher than your total UC so nil entitlement.
If earnings significantly less than this then you may get a bit. There would be further deductions if your savings at the time of claiming were over 6k.
Can you split the leave so that you each do six months so that you get the benefit of your higher earnings?

MickGeorge22 · 02/09/2025 08:34

MickGeorge22 · 02/09/2025 08:15

I don't think you would get anything but does depend what your dh's net earnings are and how much your smp would work out to monthly.
You would only be eligible for couples element of £628.10 ( assuming one of you is over 25 ) and child element of £292.81 which totals £920.91.
Assuming your partners earnings ( net) are around 2k and your smp around £500 a month this would give you 2.5k income per month.
2.5 k minus work allowance of £684 = £1816 x 0.55 ( deduction for earnings and smp) = £998.80 which is higher than your total UC so nil entitlement.
If earnings significantly less than this then you may get a bit. There would be further deductions if your savings at the time of claiming were over 6k.
Can you split the leave so that you each do six months so that you get the benefit of your higher earnings?

Edited

Actually smp is £187 a week so you would be surely coming out with close to 3k a month when you drop to smp? Does that sound about right?

Original poster
MiaRosexo · 02/09/2025 08:42

MickGeorge22 · 02/09/2025 08:15

I don't think you would get anything but does depend what your dh's net earnings are and how much your smp would work out to monthly.
You would only be eligible for couples element of £628.10 ( assuming one of you is over 25 ) and child element of £292.81 which totals £920.91.
Assuming your partners earnings ( net) are around 2k and your smp around £500 a month this would give you 2.5k income per month.
2.5 k minus work allowance of £684 = £1816 x 0.55 ( deduction for earnings and smp) = £998.80 which is higher than your total UC so nil entitlement.
If earnings significantly less than this then you may get a bit. There would be further deductions if your savings at the time of claiming were over 6k.
Can you split the leave so that you each do six months so that you get the benefit of your higher earnings?

Edited

Thanks this is really helpful as I've never really looked into/understood how it's all calculated! I wonder why the calculators online say I would be entitled to something then, even if not much, maybe they're a little inaccurate. Yes we'd be close to around £3k which to me is crazy low considering our outgoings but I'm sure everyone manages somehow! and yes we have considered splitting the leave, I just find it quite confusing so need to look into it properly further :) thank you for your help x

OP posts:
Original poster
MiaRosexo · 02/09/2025 08:44

andanotherproblem · 02/09/2025 08:07

Use this it’s very accurate, enter the details as you would in the future, e.g baby is here and you’ve gone from 100% wage to smp, just bare in mind my maternity was actually higher than the calculation as they gave me a little tax back every month, was still under £1000. You can also apply before your money goes down and they’ll just work it out every month to see if you’re entitled (this way is best as can take a few weeks to be verified) https://www.entitledto.co.uk/

Yes this is the one I used! :) thank you so much x

OP posts:
MickGeorge22 · 02/09/2025 08:49

MiaRosexo · 02/09/2025 08:42

Thanks this is really helpful as I've never really looked into/understood how it's all calculated! I wonder why the calculators online say I would be entitled to something then, even if not much, maybe they're a little inaccurate. Yes we'd be close to around £3k which to me is crazy low considering our outgoings but I'm sure everyone manages somehow! and yes we have considered splitting the leave, I just find it quite confusing so need to look into it properly further :) thank you for your help x

Show quote history

The only outgoings that UC considers is if you pay rent or childcare. It does give you a higher work allowance ( an amount of earnings that is disregarded before deductions) if you have a mortgage rather than pay rent.
If you were just going back to work part time and paying childcare costs it would be worth checking again factoring in childcare.

ComfortFoodCafe · 02/09/2025 08:54

i dont think you would get anything, those calculators are horribly inaccurate however it doesnt hurt to apply.

Danikm151 · 02/09/2025 11:05

The £130 the benefit calculator showed may just be child benefit

Original poster
MiaRosexo · 02/09/2025 11:24

Danikm151 · 02/09/2025 11:05

The £130 the benefit calculator showed may just be child benefit

It said £130 per month in UC and £26.05 per week in child benefit x

OP posts:
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