Maternity Pay Calculator 2025/26

Calculate your Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) or Maternity Allowance. See your week-by-week payments and total maternity pay entitlement.

SMP rates 2025/26
Weeks 1–6: 90% of average weekly earnings
Weeks 7–39: £184.03/week (or 90% of AWE if lower)

Employment status

Employed Self-employed Recently employed / recently left job

Average weekly earnings (£) — gross pay ÷ 8 weeks in the relevant period

Maternity leave start date — optional, for week-by-week schedule

Maternity Pay Summary

Type of pay

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Weeks 1–6 (per week)

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Weeks 7–39 (per week)

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Total maternity pay (39 weeks)—

Unpaid leave available (13 weeks)

13 weeks

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Maternity pay in the UK 2025/26

There are two types of maternity pay available to pregnant women in the UK — Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) paid by your employer, and Maternity Allowance (MA) paid by the DWP if you do not qualify for SMP.

Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)

SMP is paid by your employer if you meet the qualifying conditions:

You have worked for your employer continuously for at least 26 weeks by the end of the 15th week before your due date (the "qualifying week")
Your average weekly earnings are at least £123 (the Lower Earnings Limit)
You give your employer at least 28 days' notice

SMP is paid for up to 39 weeks. The first 6 weeks are paid at 90% of your average weekly earnings. Weeks 7–39 are paid at the flat rate of £184.03/week or 90% of AWE if that is lower.

Maternity Allowance (MA)

If you do not qualify for SMP — for example if you are self-employed, recently changed jobs, or have not worked for your employer long enough — you may qualify for Maternity Allowance instead. MA is paid by the DWP at up to £184.03/week for up to 39 weeks.

Employer-enhanced maternity pay

Many employers offer enhanced maternity pay above the statutory minimum. Check your employment contract or staff handbook to see if your employer offers a higher rate.

Maternity leave entitlement

Statutory maternity leave is up to 52 weeks. The first 26 weeks is Ordinary Maternity Leave (OML) and the second 26 weeks is Additional Maternity Leave (AML). Only 39 weeks are paid — the remaining 13 weeks are unpaid.

Keeping in touch (KIT) days

You can work up to 10 "Keeping in Touch" (KIT) days during your maternity leave without losing your SMP. These must be agreed with your employer.