NHS maternity pay calculator
Enter your band and hours to see your maternity pay week by week: full pay, half pay plus Statutory Maternity Pay, then SMP only, then the unpaid weeks.
Your details
Your trust works out average weekly pay from your actual earnings, including enhancements, so enter your own figure if you have it.
Your estimated maternity pay
£16,480.62
total over the 39 paid weeks, before tax (69% of normal pay over the same period)
| Stage | Per week | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Full pay (SMP at 90% for 6 weeks, topped up)Weeks 1 to 8 | £615.10 | £4,920.80 |
| Half pay plus SMPWeeks 9 to 26 | £501.87 | £9,033.66 |
| SMP onlyWeeks 27 to 39 | £194.32 | £2,526.16 |
| Unpaid leaveWeeks 40 to 52 | £0.00 | £0.00 |
| Paid total | £16,480.62 |
Based on average weekly pay of £615.10.
Notes and assumptions
- Occupational pay must be repaid if you do not return to NHS employment for at least 3 months (bank and agency work does not count); employers can waive repayment in cases of hardship.
- Amounts are before tax, National Insurance and pension. Your trust calculates average weekly pay from your actual earnings.
How much is NHS maternity pay?
- Weeks 1 to 8: full pay, less any Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) or Maternity Allowance you receive.
- Weeks 9 to 26: half pay plus any SMP, as long as the total is not more than full pay.
- Weeks 27 to 39: SMP only.
- Weeks 40 to 52: unpaid.
To get the occupational pay you need more than 12 months of continuous NHS service at the 11th week before your expected week of childbirth, and you must intend to return to NHS employment for at least 3 months. If you do not qualify you still get Statutory Maternity Pay, as long as you meet the statutory conditions.
NHS maternity leave and returning to work
You can take up to 52 weeks of maternity leave. The pay stages above run in weeks from the start of your leave. If your plans change, ask your manager and payroll team how it affects the repayment condition before you commit.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Statutory Maternity Pay and leave
- NHS Scotland maternity policy guide for employees (the occupational pay scheme follows national Agenda for Change terms)
NHS maternity pay questions
How much is NHS maternity pay?
With more than 12 months' continuous NHS service at the 11th week before your baby is due, you get full pay for 8 weeks (less any Statutory Maternity Pay), then 18 weeks of half pay plus SMP, as long as the total is not more than full pay. After that you get SMP only until week 39. The last 13 weeks of a 52 week leave are unpaid.
How is NHS maternity pay calculated?
It starts from your average weekly earnings over a set period before your qualifying week, which your trust works out from your actual pay, including enhancements. Full pay is that average. Half pay is half of it. Statutory Maternity Pay is then taken into account so the total never goes above full pay.
What is the Statutory Maternity Pay rate for 2026/27?
SMP lasts up to 39 weeks. For the first 6 weeks it is 90% of your average weekly earnings. After that it is £194.32 a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is lower.
How long is NHS maternity leave?
You can take up to 52 weeks: 26 weeks of ordinary maternity leave followed by 26 weeks of additional leave. Leave can start up to 11 weeks before the expected week of childbirth, and you must take at least 2 weeks after the birth.
Do I have to pay back NHS maternity pay?
You have to go back to NHS employment for at least 3 months after your leave ends, or you may have to repay the occupational pay. Bank and agency work does not count, and employers can waive repayment if it would cause hardship.