Special issue: the state of UK maternity pay
Meet the mums who made it work on what we're given.
Hello and happy Saturday! Welcome to a special edition of Double Shift.
A week ago, Ella wrote a feature for POPSUGAR UK about the financial realities of maternity leave - but she had so many powerful responses from working mums that she couldn’t fit them all in.
So today, we’re bringing you an extended, unfiltered version right here on Double Shift: more voices, more stories and an even sharper look at why the UK’s maternity pay system is pushing parents to the brink.
We’d love to hear your own experiences too - whether you’re surviving SMP, navigating freelance maternity or making big life choices based on childcare costs.
Tell us in the comments!
Love, Ella and Ellie x
P.S. Did you catch the first episode of Ellie’s new pod '“Help Me, I’m Poor” this week!? It’s CHARTING, so head over to pump those numbers up even more. It’s a good ‘un.
Maternity leave in the UK. It’s easy to focus on the numbers: 52 weeks off, two weeks for dads, six weeks at 90% pay and so on. On paper, it sounds generous (except for the dads!). In reality, it’s brutal.
After the first few weeks, most new mothers are expected to live on just £184.03 a week - less than half of what you’d earn on minimum wage. Self-employed mothers don’t even get the 90% top-up: they rely on Maternity Allowance, which often leaves them scrambling to stay afloat.
This week, I spoke to dozens of parents who shared how they made maternity leave work: from selling secondhand clothes on Vinted to cutting back to one meal out a year. Some returned to work after just a few weeks. Some never fully recovered financially.
Because when we talk about maternity leave, we’re not just talking about time off work. We’re talking about survival.
WHAT CAN YOU DO RIGHT NOW?
If you're planning for maternity leave - or trying to survive it - there are a few things you can do to protect yourself financially:
✅ Check your National Insurance record early
If you're self-employed or expecting to claim Maternity Allowance, make sure your NI contributions are up to date. (You can top them up if needed to get the full allowance.)
✅ Apply early
Whether you're claiming Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) or Maternity Allowance, apply as soon as you're able - claims can take weeks to process. Get familiar with the MA1 form if you’re self-employed.
✅ Run the real numbers
Before you go on leave, calculate your new monthly budget - including childcare if you plan to return. Knowing the true impact can help you plan (or pivot) early.
✅ Look into support schemes
You might be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare, free nursery hours, or childcare vouchers (depending on your employer). It’s worth checking now, even if you think you don’t qualify.
✅ Find good advice
Services like Citizens Advice and charities like Maternity Action offer free help with maternity rights, benefits and financial planning. An accountant or financial advisor can also help you navigate the fine print.
Most importantly: know that it's not you - it's the system. Surviving maternity leave shouldn't feel like a financial battle.
And the more we talk about it, the more pressure we put on policymakers to finally change it - you can sign a petition here!
Stories from real mums here ↓
“You should be focusing on your baby and recovering - but instead, you're worrying about paying the mortgage.”
Rosalie, 33, SEO and Content Exec, Rugby
“I had three months of full pay, then statutory, then nothing. We stretched savings, cancelled subscriptions, and I ended my car lease. I missed little things - like getting my hair dyed - but we made it work. I freelanced during naps and sold baby things on Vinted. The biggest shock was how lonely it was. COVID meant no support groups, and my husband only got two weeks of low-paid leave. I wish more people knew how stressful it is to plan time off when you’re pregnant - or to return to work when childcare costs more than your paycheck.”
“I gave up my only form of self-care to make ends meet - and it broke me a little.”
Heather, 34, Marketing, Manchester
“I was on statutory pay, so we budgeted hard and cut everything that felt like a luxury - including my gym membership, which was my only outlet as a parent to an autistic child. That loss hit me hard. We used savings and credit cards for emergencies, skipped holidays for years, and I stayed off work longer simply because nursery and holiday clubs cost more than I’d earn. Maternity leave wasn’t restful - it was a financial and emotional balancing act. I wish more people understood the pressure families are under just to survive that first year.”
“As a freelancer, no one hands your job back - you have to fight for it yourself.”
Amy Walker, Freelance Graphic Designer, 39, Devon
“I received statutory pay both times, but as a freelancer, I had to return to work after six months - not just for money, but to rebuild my client base. We saved during pregnancy and cut back wherever we could, but it was still a strain. The hardest part is how little maternity leave is valued in society. There’s no model for men to take equal leave, so women carry the bulk of the burden. You’re expected to do everything - parent, recover, earn - and somehow feel grateful for the scraps of support you get.”
“I was made redundant five weeks after giving birth - and decided to start a business with no backup plan.”
Dagmara Kruczkowska, 39, Business Founder, Coalville
“I had no savings and only three months of statutory pay. At week five, I was made redundant - and chose to build something of my own from scratch. From June to October, I made zero income. It was terrifying and transformative. Maternity leave wasn’t just about surviving financially; it was about reframing my identity, grieving stability, and still showing up for my daughter. Love doesn’t pay the bills, and the system assumes we’ll ‘figure it out.’ But that time taught me what truly matters: presence, purpose, and creating a life that works for us, not just for work.”
“I cried into my laptop with a baby on my chest - maternity leave shouldn't feel like this.”
Geo James, Author and Digital Marketing Consultant
“I’m pregnant with my third child. I earn up to £100k when I’m working, but on maternity leave as a freelancer, I get just over £130 a week - it doesn’t even cover nappies. We’re still in debt from my first two mat leaves. I worked through postnatal depression, took on jobs while breastfeeding and cried into my laptop while my baby slept on me. We live modestly, yet we’re ineligible for support because of my partner’s income. Now we’re saving every penny for this next leave. Parenthood shouldn’t come at the cost of your mental health, stability and time.”
“I was paid in full for 6 months - but even then, affording more time off felt impossible.”
Emma Lamb, 34, Digital Services Manager, West Yorkshire
“My company was amazing - I had six months at full pay and used holiday to extend to seven. But dropping to SMP would’ve cost me thousands a month. We could’ve used savings, but that would’ve meant giving up future plans. As a higher earner, I don’t qualify for support others get, despite paying more tax for years. It feels like you’re penalised for having a good job. Babies are expensive. I’ve loved the time with my daughter, but maternity leave is emotionally intense, often lonely - and unless you’re topping it up, surviving on SMP alone isn’t living.”
“I saved double my goal - and still didn’t get paid until after I returned to work.”
Aggie Meroni, 39, Meta Ads Strategist & Agency Owner, London
“As a Limited Company Director, I only received statutory pay - and not until after my tax year ended. I saved hard while pregnant, despite low iron and exhaustion, because I knew maternity leave in London wouldn’t be cheap. I skipped socialising and worked through pregnancy to build a buffer. The system treats founders like major corporations, with no support. But I used it as fuel — 18 months on, I’ve scaled my agency with two permanent staff. You can make it work, but only with planning, creativity and sheer grit. The system wasn’t built for us - but we build anyway.”
“Without my book deal, I couldn’t have taken a year off - statutory pay isn’t liveable.”
Isabel Strychacz, 30, Copywriter and Author, South Derbyshire
“My company offered no enhanced pay, so I relied on £11k from a book deal to take a full year off. Even with that, we cut back hard and used up most of our savings. I’d hoped to run my Etsy store during leave, but with a newborn and postpartum depression after an emergency c-section, it was impossible. Statutory maternity pay meant losing over £1,500 a month - it’s nowhere near minimum wage. People think you can plan ahead, but how do you prepare for that kind of income drop? The constant financial stress overshadowed what should’ve been a joyful time.”
“I saved £25k to take six months off - and still went back after six weeks.”
Camille Hogg, 38, Freelance Writer, Brighton (gave birth in London)
“I had no maternity pay, so I saved £25k - but went back to work after six weeks when our roof repairs wiped out our buffer. I’d worked every evening and weekend until 38 weeks pregnant just to prepare. The biggest sacrifice wasn’t money, it was time. I lost that early time with my baby to protect my business. Maternity leave as a freelancer is isolating, uncertain, and full of pressure. The system isn’t built for parents like us - it expects you to bounce back on a budgeted timeline. Survival isn’t the same as being supported.”
“I went back to work when my baby was 5 months old - we had no choice.”
Harpinder Rai, 45, Customer Supply Chain Manager, Banbury
“I was on statutory maternity pay and we used up our savings fast. My husband took a second job and I returned to work full-time when my son was just five months old - I wasn’t ready, but we couldn’t afford for me to stay off any longer. We cut out all non-essentials, but the hardest part was emotional. You’re expected to recover, raise a baby, and survive on barely anything. Maternity leave isn’t a break - it’s a complete transformation. And you carry the weight of money worries the whole time, even when holding your newborn.”
“We’re financially punished for having babies - despite everything we contribute.”
Lisa Harrison, 41, Copywriter, Nottinghamshire
“I was a year into running my own business when I had my second child. As a self-employed mum, I only had four months off before returning to work. Maternity Allowance barely covered the cost of living - and my husband, also self-employed, wasn’t entitled to anything. My mum helped with childcare, but working from home while hearing my baby cry was emotionally brutal. Despite the guilt, I felt pressure to stay visible for clients. We’re contributing billions to the economy, yet the system offers us next to nothing in return.”