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Your Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) and Leave - what you get, how to claim, maternity rights and extra help

• Overview

  When you take time off to have a baby you might be eligible for: Statutory…

• Leave

  Statutory Maternity Leave is 52 weeks. It’s made up of: Ordinary Maternity…

• Pay

  Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is paid for up to 39 weeks. You get: 90% of…

• Eligibility

  Statutory Maternity Leave You qualify for Statutory Maternity Leave if:…

• How to claim

  Statutory Maternity Leave At least 15 weeks before your due date, tell…

• Extra help

  Maternity benefits Use a benefits calculator to see what help you can get…

Maternity or Paternity Leave or Pay, or Maternity Allowance for parents

Employer guide to Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) and Leave - rates, eligibility, notice period, form SMP1, recover statutory pay

• Entitlement

  This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg). Statutory Maternity Leave…

• Eligibility and proof of pregnancy

  Some employees will not qualify for both leave and pay. Statutory…

• Notice period

  Notice does not have to be in writing unless you request it. Statutory…

• Refuse pay form SMP1

  You can refuse Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) if the employee does not…

• Record keeping

  You must keep records for HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), including: proof…

• Help with statutory pay

  For financial help with statutory pay, you can: reclaim payments (usually…

Maternity Allowance is paid to pregnant women who do not get Statutory Maternity Pay - rate, eligibility, apply, form MA1

Sure Start Maternity Grant is a £500 payment to help with the costs of a new baby: what you'll get, eligibility and how to apply (claim form SF100).

Calculate an employee’s maternity pay (SMP), paternity or adoption pay, relevant period and average weekly earnings

Legal rights for pregnant employees - including paid time off for antenatal appointments, maternity leave and pay, protection against discrimination and telling the employer about the pregnancy.

Guidance for employees and employers: employment rights when on maternity, paternity, adoption, neonatal care or parental bereavement leave - keeping in touch days, annual leave, returning to work, redundancy.

Monthly publication of statistics from the Maternity Services Data Set. This month, we are analysing March 2022 data.

• Updated: 25 July 2022

Find out how to manually calculate Statutory Maternity Pay if your payroll software or the GOV.UK calculator does not work out your employee’s payments.

• Updated: 6 April 2025