Financial stress and maternity leave
A Perfect Storm
Maternity Action
November 2023
The cost-of-living crisis is impacting women and babies living on low levels of maternity pay and benefits, and affecting their health and wellbeing, warns national charity, Maternity Action.
The survey of women on maternity leave carried out in 2023 showed:
- Half of respondents (49%) were buying less healthy food than they normally would and one quarter had gone without food in order to feed their children.
- 1% worried ‘a lot’ about money during pregnancy or maternity leave, an increase from 64% in the equivalent 2022 survey in.
- 58% returning to work before they are fully recovered from the birth due to financial pressures.
- Some women are going into debt to cover basic costs on maternity leave.
