Maternity pay timeline (52 weeks)

See how typical enhanced maternity pay might unfold across 52 weeks for your sector. Pick a framework, enter your gross annual pay, then review each week. This is a planning view only: payroll, SMP/MA interaction and employer policy can differ.

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How maternity pay unfolds over 52 weeks

UK maternity leave can last up to 52 weeks. Pay during that time often mixes occupational (enhanced) pay from your employer with Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) or Maternity Allowance, then unpaid weeks if you stay on leave.

Typical public sector pattern

NHS AfC: eight weeks full pay, eighteen weeks half pay, then SMP. Schools: often four weeks full, two at 90%, twelve at half pay, then SMP. Civil Service and councils vary. Select your framework below to match our rules data.

Using this timeline

Enter gross annual pay to derive a weekly reference figure. The chart shows week-by-week occupational pay, SMP and unpaid periods. Use it for cashflow planning, not as a payroll quote.

Official sources

GOV.UK maternity pay and leave, your employer HR policy, and role calculators on our maternity hub.

Your 52-week timeline

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How this estimate worksOccupational weeks, SMP and unpaid

Weekly reference pay is your annual gross divided by 52. Occupational weeks follow typical enhanced pay in maternity-paternity-rules.json for the sector you select.

  • Full pay weeks use that weekly figure
  • 90% and half pay weeks use 90% and 50% of weekly pay (illustrative)
  • SMP uses an illustrative weekly rate for 2026/27 until 39 weeks of leave are covered in total
  • Weeks 40 to 52 are shown as unpaid if you remain on maternity leave

Real schemes often top up or offset SMP during occupational pay. Tax, pension, KIT days and return-to-work rules are not modelled. Confirm with HR and GOV.UK maternity pay and leave.

Common questions

Is this the same as my payslip during maternity leave?

Not necessarily. Real schemes often offset or top up Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) during occupational pay weeks. Tax, pension and KIT days are not modelled. Use this timeline for cashflow planning, then confirm amounts with HR.

Why does the pattern change when I pick a different sector?

Enhanced maternity pay varies by framework. NHS Agenda for Change, schools STPCD, Civil Service and local government each have typical occupational week patterns in our rules data. Your employer may offer more or less than the framework minimum.

What happens after week 39?

SMP usually runs for up to 39 weeks in total (including any occupational pay weeks). Weeks 40 to 52 on this timeline are shown as unpaid if you remain on maternity leave. You may be entitled to unpaid parental leave or shared parental leave instead — see GOV.UK maternity pay and leave for official rules.