What actually happens to your pension contributions during maternity leave

Does your employer still pay into your pension while you're on maternity leave?

Yes, for the first 26 weeks your employer must keep contributing at the same rate as before, calculated on your normal salary rather than your reduced maternity pay. According to MoneyHelper, employer contributions in this period are based on what you'd have earned had you not gone on leave, while your own contributions are based on what you're actually paid, usually far less once statutory maternity pay kicks in.

For the second 26 weeks, the rules are less generous. Employer contributions continue only if you're still receiving some form of pay. Once your pay stops, so does theirs, unless your workplace policy says otherwise.

What happens to your own contributions once your pay drops?

Your own contribution is usually a percentage of what you actually earn, so it shrinks as your maternity pay tapers down, typically 90% of average earnings for six weeks, then a flat statutory rate for a further 33 weeks. If your pay stops completely towards the end of your leave, your personal contributions stop too, even if your employer is still topping up their share.

This is the part that catches people out. It isn't one clean pause and resume, it's a gradual erosion that tracks your maternity pay curve, and most payslips don't flag it clearly.

How much this gap can actually cost you by retirement

A year of reduced contributions rarely feels dramatic at the time, but the long-term effect is bigger than most expect. PensionHelper's 2026 guide estimates someone earning £35,000 on a 5% contribution rate could lose around £1,750 in contributions during a single year of leave, growing to more than £10,000 by retirement once lost investment growth is factored in (pension-helper.co.uk, 2026).

Zoom out across a career and the numbers get harder to ignore. NOW: Pensions' 2024 gender pensions gap report found career breaks taken to care for family cost women an average of £39,000 in lost pension savings, contributing to a gap where women retire with £69,000 on average compared with £205,000 for men (NOW: Pensions, Gender Pensions Gap Report, 2024). Maternity leave is rarely a one-off contributor. For many women it's the first of several breaks that compound over time.

What to do if you can't afford to keep contributing at full rate

If money is tight, which for most households on maternity leave it is, stopping contributions isn't the only option. Ask whether your partner can top up your pension while your income is reduced. You can also contribute up to £2,880 a year with no earnings at all, topped up to £3,600 by government tax relief. Check your workplace pension portal for what your provider allows and what your employer's actual policy says, since this varies more than most people assume.

From Lucy, co-founder of Welleness

I had three maternity leaves and my pension was the last thing on my mind during any of them. I was tired, adjusting to a new baby/babies, and working out how we'd manage on a fraction of my normal pay. Nobody explained what was happening to my pension in the background, and I didn't think to ask.

It was only recently, looking at my pension statement properly, that I understood how much those gaps had added up. Not because I'd done anything wrong, but because nobody had laid out the mechanics for me at the time I actually needed them.

If you're pregnant, on leave, or newly back at work, this isn't something to panic about. It's something to look at once, calmly, so you know where you stand.

What you can do now

Log into your workplace pension portal this week and check whether your employer is maintaining contributions on your pre-maternity salary, or only on your current maternity pay.

Ask HR directly whether your maternity policy tops up pension contributions during unpaid leave, since this is rarely explained upfront.

If your income allows it, set a reminder for the month you return to work to review your contribution rate and consider raising it temporarily to close the gap.

Frequently asked questions

Do I still get pension contributions on maternity leave?
Yes, for the first 26 weeks your employer must contribute at your normal, pre-leave rate. For the second 26 weeks, contributions usually continue only while you're still receiving some form of pay.

Does my own pension contribution stay the same during maternity leave?
No, it's a percentage of your actual pay, so it falls as your statutory maternity pay tapers down, and stops if your pay stops.

Can I keep paying into my pension if I'm not earning anything?
Yes, up to £2,880 a year into a personal pension with no income, topped up by the government to £3,600 with basic rate tax relief.

How do I find out what my employer actually does about this?
Check your employee handbook or ask HR directly, since maternity pension policies are set by each employer and aren't standardised beyond the legal minimum.

Here is what one Welleness member said after completing her financial health check.

"WOW! I am blown away and actually really grateful. This landed at just the right time for me. I'm at an odd point, financially, definitely want to take more control, shitting myself about having taken a number of years out of investing in my pension and taking a hit to my income. So I'm really grateful to you for developing this because I think it is SO needed." Jude, Welleness user

If reading this has made you wonder where your own pension stands, our free financial health check takes less than five minutes and gives you a clear picture across six areas of your financial life, including your pension. No judgement. No jargon. Just clarity.

This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. For guidance specific to your situation, speak to a regulated financial adviser.