Employers must pay employees on maternity leave a weekly rate equal to 90% of their average weekly earnings for the first six weeks. For the remaining 33 weeks, whatever is the lower of the standard rate (visit the government pages for the current rate), or 90% of your average pre-tax weekly earnings is paid.

Are you eligible for maternity pay?

You qualify for maternity pay if you have:

• been in continuous employment for at least 26 weeks at the end of the 15th week before you are due to give birth

• average weekly earnings at or above £123 weekly before tax (22/23, reviewed each year, visit the government pages for the current rate)

• provided your employer with confirmation of the pregnancy with a MATB1 form or equivalent

• told your employer at least 15 weeks before the beginning of the week your baby is due (you can change the date later as long as you give at least 28 days notice)

Contractual maternity pay

Some employers offer enhanced maternity pay to attract and retain staff either as a contractual right or on a case-by-case basis.

They may pay more than statutory maternity pay for a fixed period. 

They may pay full pay for the first six weeks, half pay for the following 10 weeks and maternity pay for the remaining 23 weeks. The exact payment will differ from employer to employer.

Some employers also make a bonus payment when an employee returns to work. Check your contract or company maternity policy, or ask your employer whether you get contractual maternity pay.

You might get contractual maternity pay even if you wouldn’t be able to get statutory maternity pay. In this case, you might be able to get Maternity Allowance as well.

When you can get Maternity Allowance

You might be able to get Maternity Allowance if you can’t get statutory maternity pay. It comes from the government rather than your employer.

You can usually get Maternity Allowance if you've been employed or self-employed for 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before your due date. You’ll need to have earned at least £30 a week for at least 13 of those weeks.

The rules about Maternity Allowance can be complicated. The best ways to check what you can get are to use the calculator on GOV.UK or contact your nearest Citizens Advice for help.

Maternity Allowance - is usually paid if you don't qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay. It is paid for 39 weeks at a standard amount (check the government pages) or 90% of your average weekly earnings (whichever is lower)

How much time can you take off?

All pregnant employees can take up to 52 weeks’ maternity leave around the birth. 

 Statutory maternity leave comprises 26 weeks “ordinary maternity leave” followed immediately by 26 weeks “additional maternity leave”.

Instead of taking the full 52 weeks of maternity or adoption leave, the mother or the ‘primary’ adopter can choose to share 50 weeks of their leave with their partner through shared parental leave. Eligible parents will have the right to share up to 37 weeks of shared parental pay (paid at the same rate as statutory maternity pay). Either the father/partner takes shared parental leave and pay and the mother stays on maternity leave and pay (although for a reduced period) or bother parents can take shared parental leave and pay, as long as they qualify.

Other types of leave allowance:

Paternity Leave

A father will be entitled to paternity leave if:

• he has worked for an employer for 26 weeks by the 15th week before the baby is due and,
• earned average weekly earnings at or above £123 weekly before tax (2022-23 visit the government pages for the current rate)