The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued a statement after more than 64,500 people signed a petition calling on the Government to increase statutory maternity pay to 90 per cent of wages for the first 12 weeks, followed by the minimum wage. In its response, the Government said maternity pay “is not intended to replace earnings in full”.
The petition, launched on September 14, asks the Government to amend maternity pay rules. At the time of writing, it has received 64,529 signatures. Petitions reaching 10,000 signatures require a written Government response, while those reaching 100,000 must be considered for a debate in Parliament.
Petition demands and DWP response
The petition argues that mothers should not be forced back to work because maternity leave is unaffordable, stating that UK Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is among Europe’s least generous, falling to around 41 per cent of minimum wage after six weeks. It calls for 12 weeks of SMP at 90 per cent of salary, with the National Minimum Wage for the remainder.
The petition highlights that between 2023-26, SMP rose by just 12.7 per cent, while the National Living Wage rose by 22 per cent. It also cites estimates that the proportion of mothers returning to work early for financial reasons rose from 42 per cent in 2022 to 58 per cent in 2023.
The DWP, on behalf of the Government, issued a response on October 9. The response states that maternity pay “is intended to provide a measure of financial support while a mother takes time away from work to recover from childbirth and care for her child,” and that it “is not intended to replace earnings in full.”
Current maternity pay rules
Eligible women may receive either Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP), paid by employers, or Maternity Allowance (MA), paid by the DWP, based on recent employment and earnings. Both payments are available for up to 39 weeks.
For SMP, the first six weeks are paid at 90 per cent of average weekly earnings with no upper limit, followed by up to 33 weeks at the lower of the standard rate or 90 per cent of earnings. MA is paid at the standard rate or 90 per cent of earnings, whichever is lower, for up to 39 weeks.
The DWP noted additional support for new parents, including Universal Credit, Child Benefit, the Sure Start Maternity Grant (a lump sum of £500) and Healthy Start vouchers, depending on circumstances. The Government is also conducting a review of the parental leave and pay system, launched in July 2025, with conclusions expected in early 2027.
