NHS maternity pay calculator
For Agenda for Change staff in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. See your gross maternity pay week by week, including SMP.
Your result appears here as you type.
Gross figures before tax, NI and pension. Your employer’s policy decides the final amounts.
Agenda for Change maternity pay rules
Section 15 of the NHS terms and conditions handbook sets the occupational maternity pay scheme. If you qualify, you get:
| Weeks | What you're paid |
|---|---|
| 1 to 8 | Full pay, less any SMP or Maternity Allowance you get |
| 9 to 26 | Half pay plus SMP, as long as the total isn't more than full pay |
| 27 to 39 | SMP only |
| 40 to 52 | Unpaid leave |
If you don't have 12 months' service, you can still get SMP from your employer if you've worked there for 26 weeks by the 15th week before your due date and earn at least the lower earnings limit. If not, you may get Maternity Allowance from the DWP instead.
How this is calculated
Weekly pay is your annual salary divided by 52. For weeks 1 to 6 the SMP rate is 90% of your average weekly earnings, which is within your full pay. From week 7 SMP is £194.32 or 90% of earnings, whichever is lower. In weeks 9 to 26 the calculator adds half your weekly pay to SMP and caps it at full pay.
Worked example: Band 5 nurse on £31,000
Weekly pay is £596.15.
- Weeks 1 to 8: £596.15 a week, £4,769.23 in total
- Weeks 9 to 26: £298.08 half pay plus £194.32 SMP = £492.40 a week, £8,863.14
- Weeks 27 to 39: £194.32 a week, £2,526.16
Total gross maternity pay over 39 paid weeks: £16,158.54.
Questions people ask
How much NHS maternity pay will I get?
With 12 months’ continuous NHS service by the 11th week before your due date, Agenda for Change gives 8 weeks at full pay, 18 weeks at half pay plus SMP (never more than full pay), 13 weeks of SMP only and 13 weeks unpaid. Full pay and half pay include the SMP you are entitled to, rather than being paid on top of it.
What is SMP in 2026/27?
Statutory Maternity Pay is 90% of your average weekly earnings for the first 6 weeks, then £194.32 a week (or 90% of earnings if that is lower) for the next 33 weeks.
Do I have to go back to the NHS after maternity leave?
To keep the occupational part of your maternity pay you need to return to NHS work for at least 3 months. If you don’t, you may be asked to repay the occupational pay, but not the SMP. Check your employer’s policy for exceptions.
Does continuous service with another NHS employer count?
Yes. Agenda for Change counts continuous service with any NHS employer, so moving from one trust to another doesn’t reset the 12 months. Some breaks are allowed. Your HR team can confirm your date.
Is NHS maternity pay taxed?
Yes. Occupational maternity pay and SMP are both taxed and have National Insurance taken off like normal pay. Pension contributions continue on paid maternity leave.
Sources
- NHS terms and conditions of service handbook (section 15) (NHS Employers)
- Maternity pay and leave: pay (GOV.UK)
- Rates and thresholds for employers 2026 to 2027 (GOV.UK)
Rates and review
Uses rates for the 2026/27 tax year. Figures last checked against the sources on 25 October 2026.
Written by author to be named. Reviewed by qualified reviewer to be named.
See how we calculate and the disclaimer. Spotted a wrong figure? Report a problem.