Statutory Maternity Leave Eligibility Dates Calculator
The most confusing part of figuring out your parental leave entitlement is trying to work out if you have been "employed continuously by the same employer for at least 26 weeks by the end of the 15th week before the due date" who's idea was that anyway? so we have created a little tool that will help you.
Use our calculator to work out the dates for statutory maternity leave eligibility. To begin, simply enter the expected due date below:'
This is the date the employee needs to have been employed on by the employer to qualify for SMP (Statutory maternity pay)
You/Your employee will qualify for SMP if you/they have been with their employer for 26 weeks by the end of the ‘qualifying week’, which is 15 weeks before the expected week of childbirth. This means they need to have been employed by you from 41 weeks before the baby’s due date.
Maternity pay relevant period (for employers)
This is the relevant period. This is usually the 8 week period before the qualifying week. SMP entitlement depends on your employee’s AWE in the ‘relevant period’.
Deadline for the employee to notify employer intentions of statutory maternity leave
You/your employee must have informed the employer that they are pregnant by this date. Submitted on a form MAT B1, with their due date and intended maternity leave start date.
Earliest maternity leave start date
The earliest date for a maternity leave to start is 11 weeks before the expected week of childbirth. However, if the baby is born before this date, maternity leave will automatically start of the day after childbirth.
Maternity leave automatic start if employee becomes sick
If you/your employee is sick from work for a pregnancy-related reason from this date, statutory maternity leave will start automatically.
Useful Links
Other eligibility factors are required for shared parental leave: Shared Parental Leave and Pay: Eligibility for birth parents – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Learn more about maternity pay and leave here: Maternity pay and leave: Eligibility – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
See the paternity pay eligibility here: Paternity pay and leave: Eligibility – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The eligibility criteria are different if you’re adoptive parents or parents using a surrogate.