UK Maternity & Paternity Pay Calculator

SMP is paid for up to 39 weeks. The first 6 weeks are paid at 90% of your average weekly earnings (AWE) before tax. Weeks 7 to 39 are paid at £184.03 per week or 90% of AWE, whichever is lower. Weeks 40 to 52 are unpaid but you can still take maternity leave.

The qualifying week is the 15th week before your baby is due. You must have been continuously employed by the same employer for at least 26 weeks by this date, and your average weekly earnings must be at least £123 (the Lower Earnings Limit).

You can start maternity leave up to 11 weeks before your due date. The latest you can start is the day after the baby is born. You must give your employer at least 15 weeks’ notice of when you want to start.

Statutory paternity pay is £184.03 per week or 90% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is lower. You can take 1 or 2 consecutive weeks of paternity leave within 56 days of the birth or adoption placement.

Keeping In Touch (KIT) days let you work up to 10 days during your maternity leave without ending your SMP. The pay for KIT days is agreed with your employer and is on top of your SMP. You do not have to work KIT days — they are optional for both you and your employer.

Shared parental leave lets you share up to 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks of pay between both parents. The mother must end her maternity leave early (curtailment notice) to create the shared pool. ShPP is paid at £184.03/week or 90% of AWE.

Your employer cannot refuse your right to shared parental leave if you are eligible. However, they can refuse a discontinuous leave pattern (blocks with gaps). If refused, you can take the leave as one continuous block instead.

Statutory adoption pay follows the same structure: 90% of AWE for the first 6 weeks, then £184.03/week or 90% AWE for weeks 7–39. The match date (when matched with a child) replaces the due date for qualification purposes.

If your average weekly earnings are below £123, you will not qualify for SMP. However, you may be eligible for Maternity Allowance (MA) from the government, which is paid at £184.03/week or 90% of AWE for up to 39 weeks. Apply through Jobcentre Plus.

Yes. You continue to accrue all your contractual holiday entitlement throughout your entire maternity leave, including any unpaid weeks. You can add this holiday before or after your maternity leave. Discuss the arrangement with your employer.