To qualify, you need at least 26 weeks' continuous service by the "qualifying week" (15 weeks before the due date) and average earnings at or above the Lower Earnings Limit (£129/week). Many employers offer enhanced contractual maternity pay above the statutory minimum — check your contract.
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The figure above is an estimate of what you're entitled to or what it costs you — deciding what to actually do with it (invest, overpay debt, top up a pension) is a bigger decision worth getting right.
Received a redundancy payout: understand tax-free thresholds and how to make a lump sum work for you long-term.
Planning parental leave: budget around the drop from full pay to statutory rate, and check what protections apply.
Deciding whether to overpay a student loan: for many people investing the surplus outperforms early repayment — but it depends on your plan type and income trajectory.
Reviewing pension contributions: small percentage changes compound significantly over a career.
An FCA-regulated independent financial adviser can model your specific numbers — free directories like Unbiased.co.uk match you with a local IFA.
90% of your average weekly earnings for the first 6 weeks, then the lower of £194.32/week or 90% of average weekly earnings for the remaining 33 weeks, paid for up to 39 weeks total.
Do I qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay?
You need at least 26 weeks' continuous employment with your employer by the qualifying week (15 weeks before your due date), and average weekly earnings of at least £129 (the Lower Earnings Limit).
Is maternity leave 52 weeks but pay only 39 weeks?
Yes — statutory maternity leave is up to 52 weeks, but Statutory Maternity Pay is only paid for the first 39 weeks; the final 13 weeks are unpaid unless your employer offers enhanced pay.
What if I don't qualify for SMP?
You may be able to claim Maternity Allowance instead, paid by the DWP rather than your employer — check eligibility at gov.uk/maternity-allowance.