Have your say on government e-petitions

Improve maternity pay and financial support for working families

Submitted by Emily Pardoe on Wednesday 18th February 2026

Published on Tuesday 24th March 2026

Current status: Open

Open until: Thursday 24th September 2026

Current Signatures: 1,230
(count is updated approximately hourly)

Relevant Departments

Tagged with

Access ~ Cost ~ Cost of living ~ crisis ~ Families ~ Grant ~ Living costs ~ Maternity ~ Payment ~ Pressure ~ society ~ Sure Start ~ Universal Credit ~ Universities ~ work

Petition Action

Improve maternity pay and financial support for working families

Petition Details

We want the Government to improve financial support for families by increasing statutory maternity pay to reflect living costs, reviewing Universal Credit income thresholds so working families are not excluded, and extending access to the Sure Start Maternity Grant or an equivalent payment.

Additional Information

During the cost of living crisis, many working families struggle financially when income drops during maternity leave. Statutory maternity pay is often insufficient, and current eligibility rules for Universal Credit and the Sure Start Maternity Grant can exclude families who are in work but still under financial pressure. Families should not be penalised for working and contributing to society before starting a family.


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216.73.217.179 Tue, 23 Jun 2026 04:12:05 +0100