Benefits and support for working parents
If you have a job and have children or are pregnant, you could get:
- pay and leave while you have a baby
- paid and unpaid time
- Universal Credit, Child Tax Credits or childcare schemes to help cover childcare costs
Use benefits calculators – GOV.UK to check exactly what benefits you might be entitled to.
Pay and leave while you have a baby
Maternity pay
Most parents are entitled to money while they have a baby. This is through maternity pay or maternity allowance.
You will get maternity pay – GOV.UK if you are an employee who:
- has been in their job for a least 26 weeks
- earns at least £120 a week
You could get Maternity Allowance – GOV.UK if you're:
- a worker or self-employed
- not eligible for maternity pay
Maternity leave
If you are an employee, you are entitled to maternity leave. Maternity leave is time off before and after your baby is born. It includes:
- the right to return to your job
- holiday pay
- any other employee benefits
You will get maternity leave no matter how long you have been in your job or how much you earn.
If you are a worker or self-employed, you are not entitled to maternity leave.
Fathers, partners and same-sex partners might also be entitled to paternity leave and paternity pay – GOV.UK.
Paid and unpaid time off
If you are an employee, you could be entitled to both paid and unpaid time off.
You will get paid time off for antenatal care. This can include time for medical appointments and antenatal or parenting classes, if they've been recommended by a doctor or midwife.
If you are an employee and have worked at a company for more than a year, you could be entitled to 18 weeks' unpaid parental leave – GOV.UK for each child and adopted child, up to their 18th birthday.
Unpaid leave can help you do things like:
- look at new schools
- settle children into new childcare arrangements
- spend more time your children
The father or pregnant woman's partner also has the right to unpaid time off work to go to 2 antenatal appointments.
Universal Credit, Child Tax Credits or childcare schemes
If you are working but on a low income, you could get the child element of Universal Credit – GOV.UK. This replaces Child Tax Credit which is now only available if you or your partner are getting the Severe Disability Premium.
The child element of Universal Credit helps with the costs of raising a child and can help you to claim back up to 85 per cent of eligible childcare costs.
If you are working but not eligible for the child element of Universal Credit, you can still get help with childcare costs. This could be by using childcare schemes like 30 hours and tax-free childcare.