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Statutory Maternity Pay
To help you to take time off work both before and after your baby is born, you may be able to get Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP). This is a weekly payment from your employer.
Who is eligible for SMP?
To qualify for SMP you must have been:
- employed by the same employer continuously for at least 26 weeks into the 15th week before the week your baby is due
- earning an average of at least £95 a week
Please read ‘Statutory Maternity Pay – eligibility’ for more information.
Your employer must give you form SMP1 if you do not qualify for SMP. If you can't get SMP from any of your employers (if you have more than one) you may be able to get Maternity Allowance (MA) instead.
How to claim SMP
To make a claim for SMP, you must:
- tell your employer when you want your SMP to start
- provide medical evidence of the date your baby is due
Please read ‘Statutory Maternity Pay – how to claim’ for more information.
How much SMP do you get
If you qualify for SMP, it is paid:
- for the first six weeks at 90 per cent of your average gross weekly earnings with no upper limit
- for the remaining 33 weeks at the lower of either the standard rate of £123.06, or 90 per cent of your average gross weekly earnings
Please read ‘Statutory Maternity Pay – how it is worked out’ for more information.
When is SMP paid
Your employer will usually pay you in the same way and at the same time as your normal wages. It can be paid for up to 39 weeks.
Please read ‘Statutory Maternity Pay – when do your payments start’ for more information.
Circumstances that may affect your SMP
If you are already getting SMP there are circumstances that may affect your payments. The following examples provide more information.
If you return to work while receiving SMP
You can work up to ten days during your Maternity Pay Period (MPP) for the employer paying your SMP without losing your entitlement. These are called Keeping in Touch (KIT) days. Once you have worked for ten days and you do further work for that employer, you will lose SMP for each week in your MPP in which you do that work.
Please note, if you work your tenth KIT day and do a further day’s work in the same week, you will lose SMP for that week. This is because you will have exceeded the ten day maximum in that week. In the MPP, a week means any period of seven days. For example, if your SMP started on a Thursday, a week will run from Thursday to Wednesday.
If you start work with a new employer
If you start work with a new employer before your baby is born your SMP is not affected.
If you start work with a new employer after your baby is born (if you work for an employer who did not employ you in the 15th week before the week your baby was due) your SMP must stop. You must tell the employer paying you SMP.
If you start voluntary work
SMP is not usually affected by voluntary work.
If you go to live or visit abroad
Once you become entitled to or if you are already getting SMP and then go abroad, your employer must pay you SMP.
If you work outside the United Kingdom (UK) for a UK employer you may be able to get SMP if your employer pays NI contributions for you, or would pay if your earnings were high enough.
If you worked for a UK employer both in the European Economic Area (EEA) and the UK and actually worked in the UK in the 15th week before your expected week of childbirth you may get SMP even if your employer has not paid NI contributions for you.
If you go into hospital or care home
SMP is not affected if you go into hospital or care home.
If you are sent to prison or arrested
SMP will end, but you will be able to claim Maternity Allowance (MA).
If you are sick at the end of your SMP
You may claim Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) from your employer, the normal rules for eligibility will apply.
If you’re not entitled to SSP, you may be able to claim Employment and Support Allowance. Your employer will give you form SSP1 to explain why you are not entitled to SSP.
SMP if you are claiming benefits or tax credits
If you or your partner or civil partner are claiming benefits or tax credits, you may be able to get a Sure Start Maternity Grant.
If you receive SMP, you may claim Income Support to top up your income.
You can find more information about Maternity Benefits in leaflet NI 17A 'A Guide to Maternity Benefits' on the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) website.
SMP and insolvency
If your employer does not pay you SMP because they are insolvent, payment will be made by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC). They will only do this when your employer has been formally declared insolvent. HMRC will take over the payment from and including the week of insolvency. Any payments before that date must be paid by your employer.
If your employer is insolvent, you should telephone the Statutory Payments Disputes Team on 0191 225 5221. They will need to know:
- your name and address
- the date your employer became insolvent
- details from your payslips of any payments received and the period covered by the last payment
- the date the statutory maternity payment ends or the date you intend to go back to work
You may also be asked to provide some of this information in writing.
What else you need to know about SMP
Each time you get pregnant you must use the date your baby is due to work out your SMP for that pregnancy.
If you have more than one job, you may be able to get SMP from each employer.
If you disagree with the decision on your SMP
If you think your employer's decision not to pay you SMP is wrong, or that you’re not getting the right amount, ask them for the reason.
If you still disagree, you can contact the HM Revenue and Customs employees enquiry line on 0845 302 1479 for advice.
Please read ‘Statutory payments - if you think your employer's decision is wrong' for more information.
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