Your Guide to UK Maternity, Paternity & Shared Parental Pay (2025/26)

Introduction

Preparation for a baby is not simply about buying prams and decorating the nursery — one also needs to think about putting the figures together. Time away from work will translate into a change against your income, and unluckily, it is not always clear how much you are to receive in lieu of your service.

The good news: The UK has clear-cut rules regarding maternity, paternity, and shared parental pay. Once you make yourself familiar with them, you can sit down and make a budget and decisions that best suit your family.

This guide takes you through the 2025/26 rules in plain English: who’s eligible, how much you’ll get, and what the timelines look like. Worked examples also accompany the guide, so you can see the calculations in action.

Maternity Pay: Up to 39 Weeks’ Support

Who can get it?

For Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) qualification, one must:

Be employed (not self-employed)
Earn at least £125 a week (gross, before tax), averaged over the relevant 8-week period ending with the qualifying week
Have been working for the same employer for at least 26 weeks by the end of the 15th week before the baby's expected week of birth
Give the relevant notice and submit the MAT B1 form by the end of the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth

And all these details are furnished on GOV.UK.

How much is it?

This is what SMP will look like in 2025/26:

First 6 weeks - 90% of your average weekly earnings
For the next 33 weeks: either £187.18 a week or 90% of your earnings, whichever is less.

The higher your earnings, the more you feel the drop at week 7. SMP is subject to income tax and National Insurance deductions.

Paternity Pay: Up to 2 Weeks

Who qualifies?

If you are the father, partner, or spouse of the mother, or one of the intended parents through adoption or surrogacy, you may qualify for Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP).

Just like maternity, you need to have worked for your employer for 26 weeks before the 15th week prior to the due date. You must also earn at least £125 per week (gross), averaged over the relevant period.

For full details, please visit GOV.UK.

How much is it?

SPP pays the reduced amount between:

£187.18 a week, or
90% of average weekly earnings

One or two weeks might be taken, and it has to be taken within 56 days from birth. ACAS will provide you information on how this works in readjusting the idea of potential leave. SPP is subject to income tax and National Insurance deductions.

Shared Parental Leave: Flexible for Families

Not everyone realises this exists, but Shared Parental Leave (SPL) permits parents to divide up to 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks of pay between them.

You qualify if both parents pass the employment and earnings test (i.e., earning at least £125 per week, gross, averaged over the relevant period) and share responsibility for the child. To use SPL and ShPP, the birth or adopter parent must give a curtailment notice to end their maternity or adoption leave/pay.

The pay rate will mirror that of maternity pay after week 6: £187.18 a week or 90 per cent of earnings, whichever is lower.

Here is the clever part: The leave can be taken in blocks, together or apart, at any time during the baby's first year. Visit GOV.UK for details. ShPP is subject to income tax and National Insurance deductions.

Worked Examples

Example 1: Maternity Pay

Sarah earns £500 a week. Her SMP is calculated as follows:

Weeks 1 to 6: 90% of £500 = £450 per week
Week 7 to 39: £187.18 per week (This is lower than 90% of her earnings)

Total: (6 × £450) + (33 × £187.18) = £8,877 (approx.)

Example 2: Shared Parental Pay

Alex works for a wage of £400 per week while Jamie makes £300 a week. They decide the rest of the leave must be shared on a 50/50 basis after the first 12 weeks.

For the first 6 weeks: Alex gets 90% of £400, which is £360 a week
For the next 6 weeks: Alex gets £187.18 a week
For the last 27 weeks: The parental leave is split, both receiving £187.18 a week

In this way, both parents get a decent amount of paid leisure time and a little income to maintain their lifestyle.

Key Timelines

Maternity leave may start 11 weeks before the due date
Paternity leave must be taken within 56 days of the birth
Shared parental leave has to be taken within the first year

Confirm your dates and entitlements through the official government calculator.

Conclusion

Getting your head around maternity, paternity and shared parental pay can feel like another admin task for the new-parent to-do list. But, if you get your head around the basics, planning becomes way easier.

Maternity pay gives you support for up to 39 weeks
Paternity pay covers 2 weeks for the partner
Shared parental leave offers families a chance to split up to 37 weeks' worth of paid leave flexibly

So, the key is to know your entitlement early enough to build a budget that works for your family. That way, you will spend less time worrying about money and more time enjoying life with your new bundle of joy.