New research by Maternity Action finds 50% of expectant and new mothers in the UK are cutting back on healthy food, and 57% are going without heating, in response to cuts to statutory maternity pay and other forms of government support. 59% said that money worries impact their mental and physical health during pregnancy or maternity leave.
The current £187.18 weekly rate of statutory maternity pay and maternity allowance is equivalent to 44% of the standard higher rate national living wage of £427.35. This represents a significant fall: in 2012, SMP and maternity allowance were equivalent to 63% of the standard higher rate national living wage.
Maternity allowance is designed for women who are self-employed or are not eligible for SMP for other reasons. However, Universal Credit treats maternity allowance as ‘unearned income’, which means mothers on maternity allowance can be around £6,000 per annum worse off than mothers on SMP.
Mothers told Maternity Action:
“I will often go without in the middle of the day so that my child can eat. Sometimes his meals consist of part of mine so that I don’t have to buy extra.”
“My toddler turned to me today and said “Cold, chilly” as I’d tried to keep the heating off for longer to save money.”
According to the Women’s Budget Group, it would cost just £8 million (equivalent to 0.003% of benefits and tax credit spending in 2025/26) to tackle the unjust treatment of mothers claiming maternity allowance. To increase SMP and maternity allowance to 50% of the value of the national living wage would have a net annual cost of £125 million.
Commenting on the new findings, Ali Fiddy, Director of Maternity Action, said:
“The cost of living crisis is not over for those who are pregnant or a new parent. Despite us knowing that low income is linked to poorer health in mothers and babies, mothers are being left to face increases in the cost of food and energy with inadequate support from maternity pay.
“These are women who have worked for their entitlements. The Chancellor urgently needs to start investing in maternity pay to close the gap with the National Living Wage, improve health outcomes for babies and ensure the Government can fulfil its promise to tackle child poverty.”
You can send a letter to your MP, drafted by Maternity Action, calling on the Chancellor to address this issue, here.
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