Maternity / Paternity / SPL Pay Calculator

SMP is 39 weeks of pay total. The first 6 weeks are paid at 90% of your average weekly earnings (no cap). The remaining 33 weeks are paid at the lower of the statutory weekly rate or 90% of your earnings. The statutory rate rises each April; the calculator uses the latest known figure.

SMP is paid by your employer to employees who meet the qualifying conditions (26 weeks of continuous employment by the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth, plus earnings above the Lower Earnings Limit). Maternity Allowance is paid by the Department for Work and Pensions to people who do not qualify for SMP - typically the self-employed, or those who have recently changed jobs. MA is paid at the lower of the statutory rate or 90% of average earnings for 39 weeks. There is no 6-week 90% boost like SMP has.

Many employers offer enhanced maternity pay - typically a few weeks at full pay, a few weeks at half pay, then statutory only. The exact terms are in your contract or employee handbook. This calculator includes a few common patterns. Where the scheme pay drops below your SMP entitlement, the law requires you receive the SMP minimum.

SPP is 1 or 2 weeks of pay at the lower of the statutory rate or 90% of your average weekly earnings. From April 2024 the 2 weeks can be taken non-consecutively within 52 weeks of birth or adoption. Eligibility requires 26 weeks of continuous service by the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth.

Eligible couples can share up to 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks of pay between them. The mother must "give up" some of her maternity entitlement to release the leave to the partner. Shared Parental Pay is paid at the same lower flat rate as the bulk of SMP. The split can be flexible - the partner can take blocks while the mother is still on leave, or after she returns. The maths of who gets paid what across the split is the most useful part of running this calculator for both partners.

Yes, if your employer offers a pension scheme it must continue to contribute based on your normal salary (not your reduced maternity pay) for the entire paid maternity leave period. Your own contributions are usually based on what you actually receive. This is one of the largest hidden benefits of statutory maternity pay and is often missed when families budget for leave. Continuing employer contributions on full salary can be worth £2,000-£5,000 over 9 months for typical workers.

You cannot take paid holiday at the same time as maternity leave but you do continue to accrue holiday entitlement during the entire leave period. Most people take their accrued holiday immediately before returning, effectively extending their paid leave. This is worth modelling in your return-to-work budget.