United States · https://decisionscalc.com/tools/parental-leave-bill-split-calculator/
Who pays what while one of you is on parental leave
Statutory leave pay is a fraction of a salary, so the way you split the bills before the baby rarely works during leave. Enter both pays and your shared bills: we work out the leave pay week by week from the official rules, then compare a 50/50 split, a split by income, and a split that leaves you both the same money, plus the pension the parent on leave misses.
Leave pay a month, on average
| Split | On leave pays | Left | Partner left |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50/50 | £1,000 | £174 | £3,167 |
| By income during leave | £440 | £734 | £2,606 |
| Same money left each | gets £496 | £1,670 | £1,670 |
“Gets” means the partner pays the whole bill and also passes this much to the parent on leave.
Splitting by income, the parent on leave pays £440 a month instead of £1,000. Paying £1,555 into their pension would close the pension gap.
Frequently asked questions
Is splitting bills 50/50 fair during maternity leave?
Usually not. Statutory leave pay is far below a normal salary (UK Statutory Maternity Pay is £194 a week after the first 6 weeks), so paying half the bills can use up all of it, or more, and the parent on leave ends up spending savings while the other keeps most of their pay.
What is the fairest way to split bills on parental leave?
Many couples switch to paying in proportion to income during the leave, or to pooling both incomes so each is left with the same money after bills. Both keep the bills paid; the difference is how much spending money each of you has. This calculator shows all three side by side so you can agree one.
What about the pension?
Pension contributions usually fall with pay during leave, so the parent on leave builds less pension. The figure shown is your contribution rate on the pay lost. Some couples have the higher earner pay that amount into the other parent’s pension.
Are the amounts after tax?
No. They are before tax, averaged per month over the leave. Statutory leave pay is often taxed lightly or not at all, so the split on take-home pay is usually a little closer than shown.
Related
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| Metric | Scenario A | Scenario B | Difference |
|---|
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