Maternity Action

Self-employed women are among the hardest hit by the UK’s failing maternity pay system - Maternity Action By Judith Dennis, Head of Policy, Maternity Action The UK’s system of maternity leave and pay is failing a lot of parents but quite possibly one of the groups it’s failing worst are the self-employed....

5. This is not fair. Read our blog to find out more bit.ly/45cava5 @fsb-uk.bsky.social @womeninbusiness.bsky.social @teamipse.bsky.social
@labourwomensnet.bsky.social @fawcettsociety.bsky.social @justinmadders.bsky.social
@resfoundation.bsky.social @womensbudgetgrp.bsky.social

4. And if you're claiming Universal Credit it's going to claw back your Maternity Allowance in any case.

3. You're not allowed to work as self-employed outside your 10 Keeping in Touch Days - but - get this- if you were on Statutory Maternity Pay you could.

2. You're almost certainly not entitled to Statutory Maternity Pay but you might be entitled to Maternity Allowance.

Self-employed women get a particularly raw deal from the UK's maternity pay system 🧵👇And a blog bit.ly/45cava5

Know your rights when you're breastfeeding in public.

Check out our Q&As - or read our info sheet maternityaction.org.uk/advice/breastfeeding-in-public-places.

#breastfeeding #worldbreastfeedingweek #pregnancy #pregnancyrights #maternity #maternityrights #BreastfeedingInPublic

New mums who are self-employed get treated unfairly by the UK's maternity pay system. We’ll keep fighting for change. Listen to Annah Psarros, our Senior Policy Officer & read our blog to find out more. bit.ly/45cava5

Breastfeeding in the workplace, know your rights!
Here's the info sheet for you:
maternityaction.org.uk/advice/conti...

#breastfeeding #worldbreastfeedingweek #pregnancy #pregnancyrights #maternity #maternityright

We need urgent action on #maternity and parental leave pay. Email your MP, campaign with us to #EndPregnancyPoverty 📷http://bit.ly/3QjZ0GG.

This is why reform of the UK's system of parental leave and pay is long overdue:👇🧵

A great webinar & report on the gender wealth gap from @womensbudgetgrp.bsky.social chiming with experiences of women reporting to our Pushed Into Poverty survey that they use up their savings & take on debt to get through #maternity leave while their partners hang on to their savings.....

A quarter of mums are quitting work within a year of maternity leave – and it’s costing UK businesses £650m Poor return-to-work support is driving 100,000 mums out of work each year

What a waste! A quarter of new mums quit work within a year of #maternity leave, costing UK businesses £650m - as well as costing mums & their families obvs!😀Not suprisingly employers refusing flex work requests & mat discrimination among the reasons. www.madeformums.com/news/mums-qu...

Government launches 'landmark review' of parental leave and pay The government has launched what it describes as a “landmark review” of parental leave and pay as part of its Make Work Pay

Great to Our Pushed Into Poverty research into low #maternity pay feature in Labour Research Department news this month www.lrd.org.uk/free-read/go...

Charter Trust strikes over maternity pay called off Charter Trust strikes at London schools over maternity pay have been called off after a settlement was reached between the NEU and the trust.

Great to see this latest win on occupational #maternity pay by @neunion.bsky.social #EndPregnancyPoverty schoolsweek.co.uk/strikes-at-l...

Manchester mum 'laughed at' for wanting job back after maternity Sarah Lindup's new boss would not give her her former role back, a tribunal hearing is told.

This is why Maternity Action's advice is needed & why we're looking forward to the enhanced protection against maternity discrimination in the employment rights bill becoming law #maternity www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

UK #food inflation was 4.5% over the 12 months to June 2025 while the rise in maternity pay this year was 1.7%😡Email your MP, campaign with us to #EndPregnancyPoverty 📷http://bit.ly/3QjZ0GG.

#maternity pay & allowance are £187.18 weekly compared to £427.35 NLW for a 35hr week! 😡Email your MP, campaign with us to #EndPregnancyPoverty 📷http://bit.ly/3QjZ0GG.

Responses to consultations and submissions - Maternity Action Maternity Action submits responses and evidence to Government consultations and parliamentary inquiries. Please click on the links to download the full documents in PDF format. 2025 Maternity Action’s...

You wouldn't have thought that pregnant women & new mothers should come off worse from the Government's health & disability benefits reforms, but guess what...Read our response to the Pathways to Work consultation: maternityaction.org.uk/consultation...

Black Maternity Experiences Report 2025 — FIVEXMORE

Five X More's second Black Maternity Experiences Report shows that Black women are still experiencing discrimination, lack of empathy and inadequate information during their maternity care journey.

Read their evidence & recommendations here fivexmore.org/black-matern...

Pregnant women and new mums need urgent action on #maternity pay. MPs must debate this petition: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/71... #EndPregnancyPovery

Self-employed & single mothers are some of the biggest losers from our current system of #maternity leave & pay. The Government must put this right. #endpregnancypoverty

#Employment rights include #ParentalRights so we were delighted to have the opp to attend & contribute to this event with @justinmadders.bsky.social @prospectunion.bsky.social & @cipd.bsky.social

Did you know that you're entitled to free #NHS prescriptions if #pregnant/on #maternity leave? But you could get fined if you don't have a valid exemption certificate?! Don't get caught out! Have a listen to Annah Psarros....

It’s Birth Trauma Awareness Week. This year, we focus on marginalised groups facing extra barriers in maternity care, from racial disparities to challenges faced by disabled and neurodivergent mothers. Let’s listen. Let’s learn. Let’s do better. #GoodMaternityCareforAll #BTAW25

What we know about the UK's parental leave review Britain's parental leave system is one of the least generous compared to other developed countries

Great to work with Lydia Smith of @yahoofinance.com to share the news of the Government's Parental Leave Review #EndPregnancyPoverty uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/parenta...

Bereavement leave to be extended to miscarriages before 24 weeks Parents who experience pregnancy loss at any stage will be entitled to leave from work under planned changes.

Really good to see this recognition of the needs of parents who suffer pregnancy loss before 24 weeks www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Great to see this Parliamentary petition to improve #maternity pay has now reached more than 100k signatures! petition.parliament.uk/petitions/71... So MPs should get a chance to debate it! #endpregnancypoverty

Press releases - Maternity Action 2025 Maternity Action response to the Government’s announcement of the Parental Leave Review, July 2025 Alliance of trade unions and charities call on Business and Trade Secretary for bold reforms to ...

But meantime parents are pushed into debt & poverty by #maternity pay which is less than half the standard weekly national living wage. They can't wait until 2027 for action! Read our full response here maternityaction.org.uk/press-releas... #EndPregnancyPoverty

Great that Government thinking about including diverse types of parents with different employment statuses & making connection to closing the gender pay gap, maternal health, child poverty.