FAQ on Maternity Pay

By Clare Brennan

What pay am I entitled to while on maternity leave?

If you were in continuous employment during your pregnancy, then you're entitled to Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP). Your employer pays and claims most of it back from the Inland Revenue.

How can I be sure that I qualify for SMP?

Two things count here:

If you have worked for your present employer for at least 26 weeks by the end of the qualifying week (the qualifying week is 15 weeks before the week you expect your baby to arrive), then you’ve passed the time qualification
If your earnings averaged at least £67 a week in the eight weeks before the end of the qualifying week, then you are over the earnings hurdle
You are still entitled to SMP if your baby is stillborn after the 24th week of pregnancy

How much is SMP?

This depends partly on how much you usually earn

The first six weeks of SMP are paid as 90% of your average salary. The 12 remaining weeks of your 18-week leave are currently paid at £60.20 a week.
Your employer will deduct tax and National Insurance as necessary and ensure you are paid either weekly or monthly

From April 2003 SMP will be paid for 26 weeks (and fathers will be entitled to 2 week's paid leave of £100 per week).
From April 2002 the flat rate of SMP will increase to £75 per week and from April 2003 it will rise again to £100 per week.

At the moment, SMP is given for 18 weeks only, so, if you decide to take Additional Maternity Leave, then some of those weeks will be unpaid
Your employer might offer better terms than these, but they cannot legally offer less