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How does maternity pay work?
Statutory Maternity Pay is usually paid in stages. The amount you receive depends on your earnings, whether you meet the eligibility rules, and whether your employer offers enhanced maternity pay.
The first 6 weeks
For the first six weeks of maternity leave, Statutory Maternity Pay is paid at 90% of your average weekly earnings. There’s no upper cap on this rate — if you earn more, you get more.
The next 33 weeks
For the following 33 weeks, SMP is paid at the statutory weekly rate set by the government, or 90% of your average weekly earnings if that is lower. The statutory rate usually changes each tax year in April.
The final 13 weeks
Statutory maternity leave can continue up to a total of 52 weeks, but the final 13 weeks are unpaid under the statutory rules. Many parents plan for this period by using annual leave, savings, Shared Parental Leave, or enhanced pay from their employer if available.
When does maternity pay start?
Maternity pay usually starts when your maternity leave starts. This calculator uses the planned maternity leave start date you enter as the anchor for week 1 of the timeline — so all the dates above flow from that single choice.
Why your actual maternity pay may be different
This calculator gives a simple statutory estimate. Your real income across the year could look quite different, because it doesn’t take any of the following into account:
Put it into practice
Plan your full maternity leave and pay
This calculator gives a simple statutory estimate. The full planner can help you model employer enhanced pay, annual leave, partner leave, Shared Parental Leave and different start dates.