The Maternity Pay Qualifying Week and SMP Entitlement
The qualifying week is the 15th week before the week your baby is due, counted Sunday to Saturday. To get SMP you must have worked for your employer for at least 26 weeks continuing into that week, and earn at least £129 a week on average.
The qualifying week decides whether you get Statutory Maternity Pay at all. How much you then get is set by the Statutory Maternity Pay rules: 90% of your average weekly earnings for 6 weeks, then a capped rate. Once you know you qualify, the Maternity Pay Calculator works out the amount week by week.
What is the maternity pay qualifying week?
The qualifying week is the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth. The expected week of childbirth is the Sunday to Saturday week your baby is due. Count back 15 of those weeks and you have the qualifying week. Two of the SMP tests look at it: your length of employment, and your earnings in the 8 weeks up to it.
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| 20 weeks before the due date | The earliest your MATB1 pregnancy certificate can be issued |
| 15th week before the due week | The qualifying week: the 26-week test and the earnings test are measured here |
| 11 weeks before the due week | The earliest you can start maternity leave and SMP |
| At least 28 days before SMP starts | Tell your employer, with proof of pregnancy |
| 4 weeks before the due week | A pregnancy-related absence from here starts leave and SMP automatically |
This page does not turn your due date into calendar dates. GOV.UK's maternity and paternity calculator does that, including your qualifying week.
Am I entitled to Statutory Maternity Pay?
You are entitled to SMP if all of these are true.
- You have worked for your employer continuously for at least 26 weeks continuing into the qualifying week.
- Your average weekly earnings are at least £129, worked out over the 8 weeks up to the qualifying week.
- You give your employer at least 28 days' notice and proof of your pregnancy, such as your MATB1 certificate or a letter from your doctor or midwife.
The same tests apply in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for 2026 to 2027.
The 26-week rule
You need 26 weeks with the same employer, continuing into the qualifying week. If you start a new job while pregnant and will not reach 26 weeks by then, you do not get SMP from that employer, though you may be able to claim Maternity Allowance instead (below).
Supply, seasonal and as-and-when workers
If you work as and when your employer needs you, you may not have worked in every week. A week without work still counts towards the 26 weeks if you were on paid leave, if your employer had no work to offer you, or if you turned work down for a reason your employer has checked. There is more on maternity pay on a zero hours contract.
Agency workers
The SMP is paid by whoever deducts PAYE tax and Class 1 National Insurance from your pay, if you meet the conditions.
How much do you have to earn to get SMP?
Lower earnings limit
2026 to 2027
- A week
- £129
- A month
- £559
Your average weekly earnings must be at least this.
Earlier years
For comparison
- 2025 to 2026
- £125 a week
- 2024 to 2025
- £123 a week
£123 is still quoted in some search answers. It is two tax years out of date.
The limit that applies is the one in force on the Saturday at the end of your qualifying week. If that Saturday falls in the 2026 to 2027 tax year, it is £129 a week. If your earnings fall below it, SMP is not payable at all. Salary sacrifice can push you below it, because the test uses the cash pay you actually receive.
The relevant period: the 8 weeks that set your earnings
Your average weekly earnings come from the relevant period: the 8 weeks ending with your last normal payday on or before the Saturday of the qualifying week. Everything paid in that window counts, including overtime, bonuses and commission. Nothing is rounded to whole pence.
| How you are paid | Method | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly | Add the pay in the 8 weeks, divide by 8 | £3,600 ÷ 8 = £450.00 |
| Monthly | Divide by the number of months, times 12, divide by 52 | £5,000 ÷ 2 × 12 ÷ 52 = £576.92 |
Both examples clear the £129 limit. At £576.92, SMP for the first 6 weeks is £519.23 a week. If your baby is born before or during the qualifying week, the window ends with the Saturday of the week before the birth instead.
What happens if you do not qualify?
If your employer refuses SMP, you get form SMP1 from them. You may then be able to claim Maternity Allowance from the Department for Work and Pensions, and you may need the SMP1 for that claim: see how to claim Maternity Allowance on GOV.UK. This site does not work out Maternity Allowance. The notice and proof you give your employer are covered in applying for Statutory Maternity Pay.
Qualifying week questions
Does SMP continue if a fixed-term contract ends?
Yes, if you met the qualifying conditions. HMRC's guidance says it does not matter why an employee left or whether they are coming back: they are entitled to SMP, and the employer cannot ask them to repay it.
Will I get maternity pay if I am pregnant when I start a new job?
Only if you will have worked there for 26 weeks continuing into the qualifying week. If not, your new employer does not pay SMP, and Maternity Allowance is the route to check.
Is the 26-week rule for maternity pay changing?
Not as of 8 October 2026. GOV.UK's eligibility guide, updated 5 October 2026, still sets the 26-week test for SMP.
Sources
Checked 8 October 2026. GOV.UK: eligibility, how to claim, pay, leave and the employer guide. HMRC: rates and thresholds 2026 to 2027, 2025 to 2026 and 2024 to 2025; manual calculation guide; employee circumstances; employment types; salary sacrifice. Northern Ireland: nidirect. Maternity Allowance: GOV.UK. See the methodology for how the figures are checked.