PETITIONRejectedPetition · petition.parliament.uk
Extend statutory maternity pay, maternity allowance to 18 months
Extend statutory maternity pay and maternity allowance from 39 weeks to at least 18 months, to help new families with the cost of living and job security whilst maternity/paternity period.
Last fetched 03 May 2026 · petition.parliament.uk
Signatures
8
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 8/10,000
Debate threshold (100,000) · 8/100,000
Background
Maternity pay currently lasts only 39 weeks while leave can last 52 weeks, leaving many families without income before returning to work. UK childcare costs are among the highest in Europe, with full-time nursery care often costing over £13,000 per year. Extending maternity pay to 18 months would help families manage childcare costs, reduce financial pressure on new mothers and support parents in the early years of a child’s life.