Statutory Maternity/Paternity Pay Calculator
Estimate Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) or Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP), based on your average weekly earnings and leave dates. For Great Britain employees only.
Applied to the first N weeks of the paid period. Statutory calculation resumes afterwards. Check your contract or staff handbook for your employer’s actual policy.
Weekly Pay Breakdown
Leave Period
Statutory Maternity/Paternity Pay Calculator (UK)
Use this Statutory Maternity/Paternity Pay Calculator to estimate how much Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) or Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) you or an employee may receive, based on average weekly earnings and leave start date. This tool applies to employees in Great Britain; Northern Ireland has its own, separately legislated statutory pay scheme with equivalent but distinct rules.
How Statutory Maternity Pay Works
SMP is paid for up to 39 weeks of a 52-week maternity leave period. The first 6 weeks are paid at 90% of average weekly earnings (AWE), with no upper cap. The remaining weeks (up to 33) are paid at the lower of the statutory flat rate or 90% of AWE. The last 13 weeks of the 52-week leave entitlement are unpaid unless an employer offers enhanced (contractual) maternity pay.
How Statutory Paternity Pay Works
SPP is paid for 1 or 2 weeks, which can be taken together or as separate one-week blocks, subject to the statutory rules. It is paid at the lower of the statutory flat rate or 90% of AWE. It is separate from Shared Parental Pay, which allows eligible parents to split leave and pay differently and is not covered by this calculator.
Current Statutory Rates
| Payment | Rate |
|---|---|
| SMP – first 6 weeks | 90% of average weekly earnings |
| SMP – remaining 33 weeks | GBP194.32/week or 90% of AWE, whichever is lower |
| SPP – 1–2 weeks | GBP194.32/week or 90% of AWE, whichever is lower |
| Lower Earnings Limit (LEL) | GBP129/week |
Figures shown are the 2026/27 statutory rates published by the Department for Work and Pensions. Rates are reviewed every April — always check GOV.UK’s maternity, adoption and paternity calculator for the current figures before relying on this for payroll or budgeting decisions.
How to Use This Calculator
- Choose Maternity Pay or Paternity Pay.
- Enter your average weekly earnings from the 8-week relevant period ending with the qualifying week.
- Enter your leave start date.
- Choose how many paid weeks to calculate (up to 39 for maternity, 1 or 2 for paternity).
- If your employer offers enhanced pay above the statutory minimum, tick the box and enter the enhanced amount and number of weeks it applies to.
- Click Calculate Pay to see your week-by-week breakdown.
Who Qualifies for Statutory Pay?
Eligibility generally depends on continuous employment with the same employer, average weekly earnings at or above the Lower Earnings Limit, and giving the right notice and evidence (such as a MATB1 form for maternity). This calculator does not check eligibility — it estimates pay assuming the statutory conditions are met. For a full eligibility check, see GOV.UK’s guidance for maternity pay and leave and paternity pay and leave.
Enhanced (Contractual) Pay
Some employers offer enhanced maternity or paternity pay above the statutory minimum, often for a limited number of weeks (commonly the first 6 weeks at full pay). Enhanced pay is a matter of your employment contract, not statutory entitlement — check your staff handbook or ask HR for your employer’s specific policy, as terms vary widely between organisations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many weeks of maternity pay am I entitled to?
Statutory Maternity Pay is payable for up to 39 weeks: the first 6 weeks at 90% of your average weekly earnings, then up to 33 further weeks at the lower of the statutory flat rate or 90% of your average weekly earnings. You can take up to 52 weeks of leave in total, meaning the last 13 weeks are unpaid unless your employer offers enhanced pay.
How many weeks of paternity pay can I take?
Statutory Paternity Pay covers 1 or 2 weeks. If taking 2 weeks, they can be taken together or as separate one-week blocks, subject to the statutory rules. It is paid at the lower of the statutory flat rate or 90% of average weekly earnings. Some employers offer additional paid leave beyond this on a contractual basis.
What counts as average weekly earnings (AWE)?
AWE is your average gross earnings over an 8-week “relevant period” ending with the qualifying week (broadly, the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth for maternity pay). It includes regular pay, bonuses and overtime paid during that period, before tax and National Insurance deductions.
What happens if my earnings are below the Lower Earnings Limit?
If your average weekly earnings are below the Lower Earnings Limit, you will not usually qualify for Statutory Maternity or Paternity Pay from your employer. You may instead be eligible for Maternity Allowance, paid by the Department for Work and Pensions. Check current eligibility rules on GOV.UK, as thresholds are reviewed annually.
Does this calculator apply in Northern Ireland?
No. This calculator is designed for Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). Northern Ireland has its own statutory maternity and paternity pay legislation, which broadly mirrors the GB scheme but is administered separately — check nidirect.gov.uk for Northern Ireland-specific rules.
Is Statutory Maternity/Paternity Pay taxed?
Yes. SMP and SPP are treated as earnings and paid through your employer’s normal payroll, with Income Tax and National Insurance deducted in the usual way. The figures shown by this calculator are gross amounts before those deductions.
Can my employer pay more than the statutory minimum?
Yes, many employers offer enhanced maternity or paternity pay as a contractual benefit, often paying full salary for an initial period before reverting to the statutory rate or nothing. This is entirely at the employer’s discretion unless set out in a contract or policy — always check your own contract or staff handbook.