Maternity Pay Calculator

The Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) calculator models the 39 weeks of pay you receive across UK maternity leave. The first 6 weeks pay 90% of your average weekly earnings with no cap. The remaining 33 weeks pay the lower of 90% of average earnings or £194.32/week (the 2026/27 flat rate, up from £187.18). The full 52-week leave entitlement includes a final 13 unpaid weeks unless your employer offers enhanced occupational maternity pay. To qualify for SMP, you need 26 weeks of continuous employment with the same employer by the end of the 15th week before your due date, plus average weekly earnings of at least £129 (the Lower Earnings Limit for 2026/27). If you do not qualify — typically because you are self-employed or changed jobs recently — Maternity Allowance from DWP pays the same £194.32/week for up to 39 weeks, requiring 26 weeks of work and £30+ weekly earnings across the 66 weeks before your due date. This tool is for expectant mothers planning leave and budget, HR teams modelling parental-leave costs, and partners considering Shared Parental Leave. It is also useful for women weighing the optimal time to start maternity leave — leave can start from 11 weeks before the expected week of childbirth, but starting later preserves more paid weeks for after the birth. What the calculator does NOT include: enhanced occupational maternity pay (often full pay for the first 6 or 13 weeks), Keeping In Touch (KIT) days payment beyond the 10 allowed, Tax-Free Childcare and 30-hours free childcare eligibility post-leave, Universal Credit interactions, or the full tax and NI breakdown month-by-month (SMP is taxed normally through PAYE but most basic-rate mums pay little tax at £194.32/week). Regional notes: SMP and Maternity Allowance rates and rules are UK-wide through HMRC and DWP — England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use identical figures. Pair with the Paternity Pay, Child Benefit and Childcare Cost calculators to plan the full first year.