--- title: "Splitting Bills on Maternity Leave: Fair Split Calculator (UK, US, IE, AU, CA)" url: https://decisionscalc.com/tools/parental-leave-bill-split-calculator/ description: "Who pays what while one of you is on parental leave: real statutory leave pay week by week (SMP, Maternity Benefit, Parental Leave Pay, EI, US state paid leave), split 50/50, by income, or so you both keep the same money, plus the pension gap." publisher: DecisionsCalc note: General information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Figures name their source and the date they were read. --- [US · figures checked 3 Nov 2026](https://decisionscalc.com/methodology/) Family · Parental leave # 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 rules** read on 3 November 2026 on [gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/maternity-pay-leave/pay) (SMP), [Citizens Information](https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social-welfare/families-and-children/maternity-benefit/) (Maternity Benefit, 2027 rate), [Services Australia](https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/how-much-parental-leave-pay-you-can-get), [canada.ca](https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/ei-maternity-parental.html) (EI), [Québec.ca](https://www.quebec.ca/en/family-and-support-for-individuals/pregnancy-parenthood/financial-support-pregnant-women-families/quebec-parental-insurance-plan/pregnancy-childbirth/choice-plan) (QPIP) and each US state’s paid leave agency (see the [US paid family leave calculator](https://decisionscalc.com/tools/us-paid-family-leave-calculator/)). Same rules as our [leave pay calculator](https://decisionscalc.com/parental-leave-planner/). Before tax, averaged per month over the leave; qualifying conditions apply. General information, not advice. Our planner [Parental Leave Planner](https://decisionscalc.com/parental-leave-planner/) Plan both parents’ leave week by week in a spreadsheet: each week’s dated statutory rate, employer top-ups, the household income gap and how much to save before the baby arrives. US$19 one-time · Excel and Google Sheets · US, UK, Canada, Australia and Ireland editions [See inside the planner →](https://decisionscalc.com/parental-leave-planner/) ## 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 - [UK maternity pay calculator (SMP)](https://decisionscalc.com/tools/uk-maternity-pay-calculator/) - [Ireland Maternity Benefit calculator](https://decisionscalc.com/tools/ireland-maternity-benefit-calculator/) - [Australia Parental Leave Pay calculator](https://decisionscalc.com/tools/australia-parental-leave-pay-calculator/) - [Canada EI maternity and parental benefit calculator](https://decisionscalc.com/tools/canada-ei-benefit-calculator/) - [US paid family leave calculator](https://decisionscalc.com/tools/us-paid-family-leave-calculator/) - [Parental leave pay by country](https://decisionscalc.com/articles/parental-leave-pay-by-country/) ## Get an email when US rules change Tax bands, allowances and benefit rates change every year. We email you when a rule our US calculators use changes, usually a few times a year. Confirm by email; unsubscribe in one click. Was this page useful? **Report a wrong figure or missing information**