NHS Maternity Pay Calculator

How NHS maternity pay works

The NHS Agenda for Change scheme is one of the most generous around, and it runs in four stages across the year: 8 weeks at full pay, then 18 weeks at half pay plus Statutory Maternity Pay (capped so the two never exceed your full pay), then 13 weeks at SMP only (£194.32 a week, or 90% of your average weekly earnings if that's lower), and finally 13 weeks unpaid. To qualify you need 12 months' continuous NHS service by the 11th week before your due date, and you must intend to return.

If you don't meet the service test, you'll usually still get Statutory Maternity Pay on its own — switch the scheme selector to "Statutory" to see that version.

Spread it evenly — the tip most NHS staff miss

Because the scheme is front-loaded, your income drops sharply after the first two months — right when a new baby is most expensive. Most NHS trusts will, on request, pay the same total in equal monthly instalments across the whole leave instead. Toggle "spread my pay evenly" above to see the smoothed figure — it's the single easiest thing to ask your payroll team for.

Your NHS pension keeps building

A quiet upside: during paid maternity leave your NHS pension continues to build as if you were on full pay, even though you're taking home less — and your own contributions are based only on the pay you actually receive. So you get full pension build-up at a reduced personal cost.

Planning the whole year rather than one payslip? A year on reduced pay can also pull your income under £100,000 and restore Tax-Free Childcare — worth checking with the Adjusted Net Income calculator.

Real-world tips

General pointers from how these schemes work — not advice. Always check your own employer's maternity policy.

• Ask to spread it evenly. Same total, steady monthly income instead of a front-loaded cliff. The easiest win — just ask HR.
• Watch salary sacrifice before you qualify. Sacrificing pay (extra pension, a car scheme) lowers the average weekly earnings your SMP is based on — sacrificing in the 8-week window before the 15th week pre-birth can quietly reduce your SMP.
• Half pay + SMP is capped at full pay. In the half-pay stage you get half pay plus SMP, but never more than your normal full pay.
• Use your Keeping In Touch days. Up to 10 KIT days worked without losing maternity pay — usually paid on top.
• Your pension may keep building. On many occupational schemes (the NHS especially) your pension grows as if on full pay while your contributions are based on what you actually receive.
• Annual leave keeps accruing. You build holiday throughout leave and can add it to the start or end — extra paid time before any unpaid weeks.
• Check any return-to-work condition. Enhanced pay often assumes you return; some schemes ask for a minimum period back or repayment of part of the extra pay.
• Budget for the unpaid weeks. Most schemes end with unpaid leave — set a little aside during the paid stretch, or spread your pay evenly.

Frequently asked