Maternity Pay

it’s terrible, i’ve only had 2 payments so far and it goes within a second it’s not enough to live on.

Do you work? Or are you claiming Universal Credit?

Look into housing benefit, that could be a help for you if you’re entitled to it

I’m in full time employment but I think work will only pay the first 6 weeks of leave, I’m not sure I’ll qualify for additional support?

It will be very difficult as a single parent household without savings to use during the time (assuming you are based on how you worded this). How long were you planning to take off?

I know my work is the same - it’s honestly madness. How are you meant to live off this

This is not possible unless you have been working for the company for less than 6 months?

When I’m not working I get housing benefit paid fully by the government I only have to pay council tax, tv licence , gas / water etc so it makes it a lot easier.

@Sawin enhanced mat pay at mine is 2 years annoyingly, I’ve been there 14 months (my branch actually only opened 14 months ago!!)

Thanks for the advice everyone, I’ll look into these. My partner will still be working so might not be eligible for support but I’ll take whatever I can!

I'm in the same position, my due date was literally 2 weeks too early to get enhanced maternity 🤦🏼‍♀️ and my husband earns too much for us to get any extra support 🤦🏼‍♀️ I'll be working self employed as soon as I feel ready to as that doesn't stop SMP payments

Rely on your other half’s income!

We planned ahead and had money saved up, but I appreciate that probably doesn't help you now... I do know that a lot of people don't take the full year of maternity leave which helps with getting back to earning sooner. Definitely find out whether you'll be entitled to any UC though 😊

This is a question I had a couple months ago. But what we have done is save up the difference in pay for the months SMP are paying and the months I am getting nothing. I love budgeting so it’s been easy for me as I started saving as soon as I got pregnant

I went back to work when my baby was 3 months old. We would have initially been able to scrape by with my husband working then he got sick and went on SSP which is awful so I had to go back. Its definitely not enough to live on especially if you have a life emergency x

It's honestly so shit, and no government ever seems to do anything about it! My employer only paid statutory, however they decided to enhance the maternity pay whilst I was already on maternity leave, which meant I missed out by like 3 months, was so annoyed!

@Rebecca my company are looking at enhancing it now but have said it won’t be in place before i go off next month. Did you have to do anything to start the enhanced pay when the policy did change mid mat leave or did it just happen?

We don't qualify for any help so both times I've set aside a small pot to dip into if necessary otherwise it would be a nightmare. It seems impossible whilst you're just thinking about it but you do make it work once you're in the situation. You're a team too so work out if there's anything you can both cut back on

If you don’t have more the £3000 savings in your account you can apply for universal credit and they maybe be able to support you depending on your circumstances, this goes for those on maternity pay towards the end. As each month it reduces. There’s no harm In applying

@Farzana I thought it was more than £6000 in savings?

Im having to save a massive amount of money in prep for when my pay goes down to smp for the last 3 months… its an absolute joke… plus my husband will have to help me a bit

@Lisa this is really good but what about people on their own 🤷🏻‍♀️

@Farzana it’s 6,000 and then they start to deduct money

If you are getting SMP then you may be entitled to UC, I only could claim MA as I joined my job pregnant and if you claim MA it literally cancels out the UC.

Apply for the sure start maternity grant, it’s a one time payment of up to £500 it available in the uk and Ireland I believe

@Millie that’s only if you receive certain benefits.

@Millie IF you are on benefits

@Elena I was advised £3,000, and two other friends of mines have also been receiving UC whilst on maternity pay. So just advising to my knowledge :)

@Farzana I’ve just had a meeting with UC and they advised 6,000 hun so not sure who told you 🤷🏻‍♀️ not being aggy by the way just informing you x

@Elena that’s fine, during my time this is what I was advised. If you just had one now then they must’ve changed it

When do people get Maternity Enhancement in the Uk, is it after working 2 or 3 years?

@Sawin I believe it is company dependent

I had to live off savings too 😭

We started saving before I came off the coil and worked out what the difference would be from my income and saved so we would have that much to top up my SMP. Unfortunately we can't afford for me to be off for more than 6 months so I went on mat leave at 38 weeks and due to go back when little girl was supposed to be 5.5 months (she'll now by 5 months due to being born 2 weeks late)