Maternity Pay UK: How Much Will You Get and How Does It Work?
When you're planning maternity leave, one of the first things you'll probably want to know is how much money you'll get while you're off work.
It's not always easy to find a straightforward answer. You might have heard of Statutory Maternity Pay, Maternity Allowance or enhanced maternity pay, but knowing which applies to you, how much you'll receive and when your pay might change can take a bit of working out.
And it's not just about knowing the weekly rate. You need to understand what you'll receive across your maternity leave, how that compares with your usual pay and what you might need to plan for before your baby arrives.
That's what we'll look at here, starting with the basics and working through the things that could affect your own maternity pay.
What maternity pay are you entitled to?
In the UK, there are two main types of maternity pay to know about: Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) and Maternity Allowance. Which one applies to you depends on your employment situation and whether you meet the eligibility rules.
Statutory Maternity Pay is paid by your employer if you qualify. It provides maternity pay for up to 39 weeks, although the amount you receive changes during that time.
Maternity Allowance is a benefit paid by the government. It's there for women who don't qualify for SMP but meet the rules for Maternity Allowance. This might include some women who are self-employed, have recently stopped working or haven't been with their current employer long enough to qualify for SMP.
There's also a third possibility worth checking. Some employers offer enhanced maternity pay, which means you could receive more than the statutory amount. The details depend on your employer's maternity policy.
So, before you start trying to work out your finances, it's worth checking which type of maternity pay you're likely to receive. Once you know that, you can start to put the figures together.
How much Statutory Maternity Pay will you get?
If you qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay, you can receive it for up to 39 weeks. For the 2026/27 tax year, the payments work like this:
For the first six weeks, you'll receive 90% of your average weekly earnings before tax.
For the following 33 weeks, you'll receive £194.32 a week, or 90% of your average weekly earnings if that's lower.
These rates apply from 5 April 2026. The standard weekly rate can change each tax year, so make sure you're using the rate that applies when your maternity pay is due.
The first six weeks can look quite different from the rest of your maternity leave, particularly if you earn more than the statutory rate. After those first six weeks, your pay will usually drop to the standard weekly amount. For example, if you earn £500 a week before tax, 90% of your average weekly earnings would be £450. You would receive that amount for the first six weeks, assuming those are your relevant average earnings and you qualify for SMP. After that, your weekly pay would drop to the standard rate of £194.32.
That's a significant difference, which is why it's worth looking beyond the first few weeks when you're planning your maternity leave. It's also important to remember that these are amounts before tax and any other deductions that apply. The amount that reaches your bank account may be lower.
Do you qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay?
To qualify for SMP, you generally need to have worked for the same employer continuously for at least 26 weeks by the qualifying week. This is the 15th week before the week your baby is due. You also need to earn at least the relevant average weekly earnings threshold. For 2026/27, this is £129 a week before tax.
Your employer will use your earnings during a specific period to work out whether you qualify and how much you should receive. This calculation can be a little confusing, particularly if your hours or pay change from week to week.
You don't need to work all of this out yourself before speaking to your employer. If you're unsure whether you qualify, ask your employer or payroll team to confirm your eligibility and explain how they've calculated your pay.
If you don't qualify for SMP, that doesn't automatically mean you'll receive nothing. You may be able to claim Maternity Allowance instead, so it's worth checking before you assume you won't have any maternity pay.
You can read the full eligibility rules on GOV.UK's Statutory Maternity Pay guidance.
What if you don't qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay?
This is where Maternity Allowance comes in. Maternity Allowance is paid by the government rather than your employer. It can help if you don't qualify for SMP but meet the Maternity Allowance rules.
For many eligible women, it can be paid for up to 39 weeks. The amount you receive depends on your circumstances. For the 2026/27 tax year, the maximum standard weekly amount is £194.32, although some people receive less.
Eligibility is based on your work and earnings history over a different period from the one used for SMP. In general, you need to have been employed or self-employed for at least 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before your baby is due, and you must meet the relevant earnings conditions. The rules differ depending on your circumstances, so it's important to check the details rather than assume you won't qualify.
If you're self-employed, have recently left a job or haven't worked for your current employer for long enough, Maternity Allowance is particularly worth looking into.
You can check the rules and find out how to claim through GOV.UK's Maternity Allowance guidance.
What if your employer offers enhanced maternity pay?
Some employers offer more generous maternity pay than the statutory minimum. This is often called enhanced maternity pay or occupational maternity pay. For example, your employer might offer several weeks at full pay, followed by a period at half pay and then statutory pay. Other employers have different policies, so there isn't one standard arrangement.
If enhanced maternity pay is available to you, the details should be set out in your employer's maternity policy. Check how long the enhanced payments last, when your pay will change and whether there are any conditions attached.
Some employers require you to return to work for a certain period after maternity leave if you want to keep the enhanced pay you've received. If you don't return as required, you may have to repay some of the enhanced element. The rules depend on your employer's policy, so make sure you understand them before making any decisions.
I'd also suggest asking payroll to confirm the dates and amounts of your expected payments. It's much easier to plan when you have the figures in front of you rather than trying to piece them together from a policy document.
If you're not sure where to find your maternity policy, your HR team or manager should be able to point you in the right direction.
When will you get your maternity pay?
If you qualify for SMP, your employer pays it in the same way as your normal wages. This is usually weekly or monthly, depending on how you're paid. Your SMP normally starts when your maternity leave starts, although there are circumstances where it can begin earlier, such as when pregnancy-related sickness absence occurs in the four weeks before your baby is due.
Maternity Allowance is paid differently. You can choose to receive it weekly or every four weeks, and you'll need to make a claim. It's worth checking when your first payment is expected and when your pay will change. If you're normally paid at the end of the month, for example, your first maternity payment might not arrive when you expect if your leave starts partway through a pay period.
You don't want to be trying to work this out when you're already on leave and have other things to think about.
What if you work part-time, have a zero-hours contract or more than one job?
Your employment situation can make a difference to how your maternity pay is worked out, but working part-time or having variable hours doesn't automatically mean you won't qualify.
If you're on a zero-hours contract, your eligibility for SMP will depend on whether you meet the employment and earnings rules. Your average earnings are particularly important if your hours and pay change from week to week.
If you have more than one job, you may need to check your eligibility with each employer separately. You could qualify for SMP from more than one employer if you meet the conditions for each job. If you don't qualify for SMP from one or more of your jobs, you may be able to claim Maternity Allowance, depending on your circumstances.
If you've recently changed jobs, don't assume you're automatically excluded from maternity pay. The rules for SMP are linked to your employment with the relevant employer, while Maternity Allowance has its own work and earnings conditions.
These situations can be a little more complicated, so it's worth getting advice based on your own circumstances. Your employer's payroll team can help with SMP eligibility, and GOV.UK explains the rules for Statutory Maternity Pay and Maternity Allowance.
What happens to your money when you're on maternity leave?
Knowing your maternity pay rate is one thing. Understanding what it means for your day-to-day finances is another. Your income may change more than once during maternity leave. You might receive enhanced pay at the beginning, move onto statutory pay later and then reach a point when your maternity pay ends altogether.
It's worth looking at the full period and thinking about what you'll have coming in each month. Don't forget to take account of any regular deductions, bills and other costs that will continue while you're off work.
There are a few other things worth checking too.
Tax and National Insurance: SMP is treated as earnings, so tax and National Insurance may be deducted as usual. Maternity Allowance is not subject to income tax. Your take-home pay will depend on your circumstances, so it's worth checking what you'll actually receive rather than relying only on the headline weekly amount.
Pension contributions: If you're receiving maternity pay, pension contributions may continue, but the details depend on your pension scheme and the type of pay you're receiving. Employer contributions can also be affected by the rules of your scheme. Check with your employer or pension provider so you know what to expect.
Annual leave: You continue to build up your statutory annual leave entitlement while on maternity leave. If you receive more than the statutory minimum, check your contract or workplace policy to understand how that applies. You may be able to use some accrued annual leave before or after maternity leave, which can affect your dates and pay.
Benefits and other support: Depending on your circumstances, you may be entitled to help such as Child Benefit or Universal Credit. Eligibility depends on your household and financial situation, so check the official guidance rather than assuming you will or won't qualify.
These details can feel like a lot when you look at them all together. You don't have to figure everything out in one sitting. Start with your maternity pay, then work through the other areas one at a time.
How to prepare financially for maternity leave
You don't need to have every detail sorted months in advance, but getting a clearer picture of your income before you go on leave can make a real difference. Start by asking your employer to confirm whether you qualify for SMP and whether your company offers enhanced maternity pay. If you're claiming Maternity Allowance, check the application process and when you can apply.
Once you know what you're likely to receive, map out how your income will change throughout your maternity leave. Look at the dates when your payments change or stop, and compare them with your usual outgoings. It's also worth thinking about any costs that might increase after your baby arrives, such as travel, childcare or changes to how you and your partner share work and family responsibilities. You may not know the exact figures yet, but even a rough idea will help you prepare.
If you can, give yourself time to make adjustments before your leave begins. That might mean setting some money aside, reviewing regular payments or talking through your plans with your partner. And remember, your plan doesn't have to be perfect. It's about understanding what's coming so you can make informed decisions, rather than being caught out by a drop in income you weren't expecting.
Bringing your maternity pay and plans together
Maternity pay is an important part of preparing for leave, but it's only one part of the picture. You'll also be thinking about your dates, your handover at work, conversations with your manager, annual leave and what happens when you're ready to return. Trying to keep all of that in your head can become a job in itself, especially when you're already juggling work and getting ready for a baby.
That's why I created The Maternity Blueprint. It's a practical maternity leave planning portal that brings the different parts of your maternity journey together, including maternity pay planning, key dates, annual leave, workplace conversations and the things that are easy to forget when you've got so much going on. Rather than piecing everything together from different websites, you can work through what applies to you and build a plan around your own circumstances.
You don't need more noise. You need a plan that helps you understand what to do, when to do it and what to think about next.
Explore The Maternity Blueprint
Your maternity leave should feel like a transition you can prepare for, not a long list of things you're expected to figure out alone. Let's take it one step at a time.
This page reflects UK maternity pay guidance for the 2026/27 tax year. Eligibility and payment amounts depend on individual circumstances, and rates and rules can change. Check the linked GOV.UK guidance or speak to your employer for information that applies to you.
Supporting working mums through every stage of maternity leave - clear, practical guidance that actually works in real life.
© 2026 The Maternity Plan. Designed with working mums in mind.