Maternity Pay Calculator
Work out your UK Statutory Maternity Pay for 2026/27. Enter your average weekly earnings and whether you meet the 26-week service test — the calculator shows your weekly SMP for the first 6 weeks and the remaining 33 weeks, your total over 39 weeks, and an eligibility check with a Maternity Allowance estimate if SMP doesn't apply.
£9,113 total SMP over 39 weeks
£450.00/week for the first 6 weeks (90% of your earnings), then £194.32/week for the next 33 weeks
Statutory Maternity Leave runs up to 52 weeks; the last 13 weeks are unpaid unless your employer offers enhanced maternity pay.
Assumes average weekly earnings stay constant across the 8 weeks used to calculate your official AWE. Tax and National Insurance are still deducted from SMP as normal. How we calculate →
How Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) works
SMP is paid for up to 39 weeks out of a possible 52 weeks of Statutory Maternity Leave — the last 13 weeks are unpaid unless your employer offers enhanced (contractual) maternity pay on top. The 39 paid weeks split into two rates: 90% of your average weekly earnings (AWE) for the first 6 weeks, then whichever is lower of 90% of your AWE or the flat statutory rate for the remaining 33 weeks.
SMP is paid by your employer in the same way as your normal wages (weekly or monthly), and Income Tax and National Insurance are still deducted from it as normal.
The 2026/27 flat rate: £194.32 a week
For 2026/27, the statutory flat rate is £194.32 a week. This only matters for weeks 7-39: if 90% of your average weekly earnings is above £194.32, your pay is capped at £194.32 for those 33 weeks. If your earnings are lower — for example working part-time — you may find 90% of your AWE stays below £194.32 for the whole 39 weeks, so you never actually hit the flat rate.
Are you eligible for SMP?
To qualify for SMP you must: be classed as an employee (not just a 'worker'), earn on average at least £129 a week (the Lower Earnings Limit), and have worked continuously for your employer for at least 26 weeks, continuing into the 'qualifying week' — the 15th week before your baby is due. Unlike some benefits, it does not matter how long you've worked there in total, or how many hours you work, as long as you clear these three tests.
If your employer decides you're not eligible, they must give you form SMP1 explaining why, within 7 days — and you may be able to claim Maternity Allowance instead.
Maternity Allowance: the fallback if you don't qualify for SMP
If you don't meet the SMP tests — commonly because you changed jobs recently, are self-employed, or your earnings are below £129/week — you may be eligible for Maternity Allowance, a DWP benefit rather than an employer payment. It pays broadly the same amount (up to £194.32/week or 90% of earnings, whichever is lower, for up to 39 weeks), but the eligibility test is different (working for at least 26 of the 66 weeks before your due date). This calculator gives an estimate only — the full test (including self-employed Class 2 NI history) is not modelled here.
Early births, stillbirth and special circumstances
You can still get Statutory Maternity Leave and SMP if your baby is born early, is stillborn after the 24th week of pregnancy, or dies after being born. SMP starts automatically if you're off work with a pregnancy-related illness in the 4 weeks before your due week, even if you hadn't planned to start leave yet.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Statutory Maternity Pay in 2026/27?
SMP pays 90% of your average weekly earnings for the first 6 weeks, then the lower of £194.32/week or 90% of your average weekly earnings for the next 33 weeks — 39 weeks paid in total, out of 52 weeks of leave.
Am I eligible for Statutory Maternity Pay?
You need to be an employee, earn on average at least £129 a week, and have worked continuously for your employer for at least 26 weeks by the 'qualifying week' (15 weeks before your due date). If you don't meet these, you may be eligible for Maternity Allowance instead.
What is the difference between SMP and Maternity Allowance?
SMP is paid by your employer if you meet the service and earnings tests. Maternity Allowance is a government benefit for those who don't qualify for SMP — for example the recently self-employed or those who changed jobs — with a similar weekly amount but a different (working history) eligibility test.
Is Statutory Maternity Pay taxed?
Yes. SMP is treated like ordinary wages: Income Tax and National Insurance are deducted from it as normal, and it's paid on your usual payday (weekly or monthly), not as a lump sum.
How many weeks of maternity leave and pay do I get?
You can take up to 52 weeks of Statutory Maternity Leave. Of those, 39 weeks are paid (6 at 90% of your earnings, then 33 at the lower of £194.32/week or 90% of your earnings). The final 13 weeks of leave are unpaid unless your employer offers more.
What happens if my average weekly earnings are below £194.32?
If 90% of your average weekly earnings is already below the £194.32 flat rate, you'll be paid 90% of your earnings for all 39 weeks — you never actually reach the cap, since the calculator always pays whichever figure is lower.
Researched & verified by the Calcuris Data & Research Team. How we build and check our tools →