Statutory Maternity Pay and Maternity Allowance in 2026/27
Published · 4 min read · Figures checked . UK rules and rates change, so check the official sources below before you act.
This guide explains the two main UK maternity payments, Statutory Maternity Pay and Maternity Allowance: who can get each, the 2026/27 weekly rates, how long they last and how a claim works.
Two payments, depending on your work
There are two main payments for people who are pregnant and have stopped work to have a baby. Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is paid by an employer. Maternity Allowance (MA) is paid by the government, usually to people who cannot get SMP. Both can last up to 39 weeks. The rules are set UK-wide, so they are the same in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Statutory Maternity Pay
SMP is for employees, not for self-employed people or those classed as workers. To qualify, GOV.UK says you must have worked for your employer continuously for at least 26 weeks going into the qualifying week, which is the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth. You must also earn on average at least £129 a week, give the right notice and provide proof of pregnancy.
The first 6 weeks are paid at 90% of your average weekly earnings, with no cap. The next 33 weeks are paid at £194.32 a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is lower. Tax and National Insurance are taken off, and pay normally follows your usual pay dates. The £194.32 rate applies from 5 April 2026.
Statutory Maternity Leave is separate from pay. It depends on being an employee and giving the correct notice, and length of service, hours and pay do not matter for leave. If you take the full 52 weeks of leave, the final 13 weeks are unpaid.
Maternity Allowance
Maternity Allowance may suit people who are employed but cannot get SMP, are self-employed, have recently stopped working, or do unpaid work for a spouse's or civil partner's business. To qualify as an employed person, you need to have been employed for at least 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before your baby is due, and to have earned at least £30 a week in at least 13 of those weeks. The 13 weeks do not need to be in a row. Self-employed people need to have been registered as self-employed for at least 26 of the 66 weeks.
- Employed or recently stopped working: £194.32 a week, or 90% of average weekly earnings if that is less, for up to 39 weeks.
- Self-employed: between £27 and £194.32 a week, depending on Class 2 National Insurance contributions, for up to 39 weeks.
- Unpaid work for a spouse's or civil partner's business: £27 a week for up to 14 weeks.
How a Maternity Allowance claim works
You can claim once you have been pregnant for 26 weeks. Payments can start from the 11th week before the due date until the day after the birth. GOV.UK says to claim within 3 months of your Maternity Allowance start date to receive the full amount. A decision usually takes about 20 working days. Claims use the MA1 form, with evidence such as payslips and proof of your due date. If your employer refused SMP, they must give you form SMP1 within 7 days of their decision, and this goes with your claim.
Other points
You can still get leave and SMP if your baby is born early, is stillborn after the start of the 24th week, or dies after birth. If you think your SMP is wrong, you can ask your employer to explain it, and then contact the Statutory Payment Disputes Team if you still disagree. A decision on Maternity Allowance can be challenged through mandatory reconsideration. Free, impartial help is available from Citizens Advice and MoneyHelper.
Check before you act
Rates, limits and rules change, usually each April, and your own circumstances may change which payment applies. It can be worth confirming the details on the official pages linked below, or using the GOV.UK maternity entitlement calculator, before you make any plans.
Sources
For information only. See our disclaimer and editorial standards. Spotted an error? Tell us.
