Maternity & Paternity Pay Calculator – UK
Planning for a new baby involves understanding exactly how much income you'll receive during leave. This calculator estimates your Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) or Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) based on your earnings and the 2026/27 rates.
Statutory Maternity Pay is structured in two phases: the first 6 weeks are paid at 90% of your average weekly earnings with no upper cap, making it relatively generous for higher earners. The remaining 33 weeks are paid at the flat rate of £194.32 per week (or 90% of your earnings if that's lower). Together, that's 39 weeks of paid leave—though you're entitled to up to 52 weeks off in total, with the final 13 weeks unpaid.
Statutory Paternity Pay is simpler: it's £194.32 per week (or 90% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is lower) for 1 or 2 consecutive weeks. In Great Britain since April 2024, fathers and partners can also split their paternity leave into two separate one-week blocks, taken at any point within the first year of the child's life. From April 2026 leave is a day-one right in Great Britain; pay retains its service and earnings tests. Northern Ireland has different leave rules.
A common misconception is that you need to have been with your employer for years to qualify. In reality, 26 weeks of continuous employment by the 15th week before your due date is sufficient for the standard service test. The 2026/27 qualifying-period earnings threshold is £129; earlier qualifying weeks use their historical threshold. Notice, evidence and other conditions still apply. If you don't qualify for SMP, you may still be eligible for Maternity Allowance, claimed directly from the government.
Maternity & Paternity Pay Calculator
Birth-case estimate using the expected due week, 26-week continuous-service test and relevant-period average earnings. It does not confirm all eligibility. Adoption, surrogacy, early births, employment breaks, notice, proof, pay rises and special cases require the official employer calculator. Paternity leave is a day-one right in Great Britain from April 2026; statutory paternity pay still has service and earnings tests.
Use payroll’s relevant-period average for a reliable check. Annual salary ÷ 52 is a planning proxy and can misstate qualification.
Rules checked 2 October 2026 against HMRC rates, maternity eligibility and paternity eligibility. SMP uprates at the next full payment week on or after the effective date, following HMRC’s payment-week rule.
What this means for your household income
The cliff-edge after week 6 is the biggest budgeting shock — your pay drops from 90% of average earnings to the lower of £194.32/week and 90% of those earnings for the next 33 weeks. Budget for any income reduction and the final 13 unpaid weeks if you plan to take all 52 weeks.
Things to check now: whether your employer offers enhanced maternity pay (many do for the first 3–6 months), whether you can spread leave with shared parental leave to keep the higher earner working, and whether your household qualifies for Universal Credit. SMP counts as earnings and the full household circumstances affect any award.
SMP Eligibility & How It Works
Statutory Maternity Pay is paid by your employer for up to 39 weeks. The first 6 weeks are paid at 90% of your average weekly earnings with no cap, making this period significantly more generous for higher earners. The remaining 33 weeks are paid at the lower of £194.32 or 90% of your average weekly earnings.
SMP Requirements
- • 26 weeks continuous employment by the qualifying week (pay test)
- • Average weekly earnings of at least £129
- • Provide MATB1 certificate from midwife/GP
- • Give 28 days' notice (or as soon as reasonably practicable)
- • Still pregnant at the 11th week before due date (or have given birth)
SPP Requirements
- • 26 weeks continuous employment by the qualifying week (pay test)
- • Average weekly earnings of at least £129
- • Be the biological father, mother's partner, or intended parent
- • Give 15 weeks' notice before due date
- • Taking time off to care for the child or support the mother
SMP Payment Timeline
Weeks 1–6: Enhanced Rate
90% of your average weekly earnings (AWE) with no upper cap. If you earn £40,000/year (£769/week), you'd receive £692/week during this period—significantly more than the flat rate.
Weeks 7–39: Standard Rate
£194.32 per week or 90% of AWE, whichever is lower. Most employees receive the flat £194.32 rate during this period. This is before tax and National Insurance deductions.
Weeks 40–52: Unpaid Leave
You're entitled to take up to 52 weeks of maternity leave in total, but the final 13 weeks are unpaid. You continue to accrue holiday during this period and your job is protected.
Shared Parental Leave (ShPL)
If the mother decides to end her maternity leave early, the remaining leave and pay can be shared with her partner through Shared Parental Leave. This gives families more flexibility in how they divide caring responsibilities.
- Up to 50 weeks of leave can be shared (52 weeks minus the 2-week compulsory maternity leave)
- Up to 37 weeks of pay can be shared (39 paid weeks minus the 2-week compulsory period)
- ShPL pay rate: £194.32/week or 90% of AWE, whichever is lower (same as SMP standard rate)
- Both parents must meet eligibility criteria—employment and earnings tests apply to each
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