Universal Credit, Maternity Allowance & SMP - Early Day Motions

House of Commons

Tabled 04 May 2020
2019-21 Session

That this House is deeply concerned by the different treatment of Maternity Allowance and Statutory Maternity Pay by the Department of Work and Pensions in the calculation of Universal Credit awards, with Statutory Maternity Pay being treated as earned income and largely disregarded under the work allowance and 63 per cent taper, but Maternity Allowance being treated as unearned income and deducted from any Universal Credit award pound for pound; notes that this can leave women in receipt of Maternity Allowance up to £5,000 worse off over 39 weeks of maternity leave, relative to women in similar circumstances in receipt of Statutory Maternity Pay; further notes that employed women can end up on Maternity Allowance, rather than Statutory Maternity Pay, for arbitrary reasons beyond their control, and that self-employed women can only apply for Maternity Allowance; notes that, in 2019, more than half of the some 60,000 women granted Maternity Allowance also applied for Universal Credit; believes that pregnant women and new parents, who are under extraordinary financial and other pressure as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and economic lockdown, should not be further disadvantaged by Government policies that fail to take proper account of their circumstances; and supports the Child Poverty Action Group, Maternity Action, the Women’s Budget Group, the Fawcett Society and the TUC in calling on the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to remedy this anomalous injustice by amending the Universal Credit Regulations 2013.

Signatures (101)

Supporters (101)
Withdrawn Signatures (0)

The first 6 Members who have signed to support the motion are the sponsors. The primary sponsor is generally the person who tabled the motion and has responsibility for it. The date shown is when the Member signed the motion.

In addition to the sponsors, the following Members have signed to support the motion.

Thewliss, Alison

Scottish National Party

Social Democratic & Labour Party

Liberal Democrat

Robinson, Gavin

Democratic Unionist Party

Stephens, Chris

Scottish National Party

Scottish National Party

Scottish National Party

Liberal Democrat

Jardine, Christine

Liberal Democrat

Scottish National Party

Liberal Democrat

Scottish National Party

Scottish National Party

Sharma, Mr Virendra

Whitford, Dr Philippa

Scottish National Party

Newlands, Gavin

Scottish National Party

Gibson, Patricia

Scottish National Party

Fovargue, Yvonne

Scottish National Party

McDonald, Stuart C

Scottish National Party

Scottish National Party

Yasin, Mohammad

Scottish National Party

Scottish National Party

Scottish National Party

Docherty-Hughes, Martin

Scottish National Party

MacAskill, Kenny

Scottish National Party

Fellows, Marion

Scottish National Party

Monaghan, Carol

Scottish National Party

Sheppard, Tommy

Scottish National Party

Saville Roberts, Liz

Edwards, Jonathan

Ribeiro-Addy, Bell

Lockhart, Carla

Democratic Unionist Party

Liberal Democrat

Liberal Democrat

Scottish National Party

Eastwood, Colum

Social Democratic & Labour Party

O'Hara, Brendan

Scottish National Party

Campbell, Mr Gregory

Democratic Unionist Party

Scottish National Party

Thomson, Richard

Scottish National Party

Democratic Unionist Party

Scottish National Party

Harman, Ms Harriet

Scottish National Party

Henderson, Gordon

Slaughter, Andy

McDonnell, John

Burgon, Richard

Abbott, Ms Diane

Scottish National Party

Chamberlain, Wendy

Liberal Democrat

McDonald, Stewart Malcolm

Scottish National Party

Liberal Democrat

Carmichael, Mr Alistair

Liberal Democrat

Scottish National Party

Donaldson, Sir Jeffrey M

Democratic Unionist Party

McKinnell, Catherine

McLaughlin, Anne

Scottish National Party

Bardell, Hannah

Scottish National Party

Scottish National Party

Scottish National Party

Scottish National Party

Crawley, Angela

Scottish National Party

Whittome, Nadia

Lewell-Buck, Mrs Emma

Democratic Unionist Party

Democratic Unionist Party

There are no withdrawn signatures for this Motion