Your Exact Take-Home Pay, Week by Week
Planning your maternity leave? This NHS maternity pay calculator works out exactly what you’ll take home during all four phases: full pay, half pay plus SMP, SMP only, and unpaid leave, after income tax, National Insurance, pension, and student loan deductions.
Enter your salary, contracted hours, due date, and region. All four phases calculated with correct PAYE, pension per phase, and Phase 2 cap enforced.
NHS Maternity Pay Calculator 2026/27 — OMP, SMP & Take-Home Pay
Calculate exactly what you'll take home each month during maternity leave — after tax, NI and pension. All 4 phases covered. OMP verified against AfC Handbook Section 15. SMP rate £194.32/wk from 6 April 2026.
SMP rate £194.32/week from 6 April 2026. LEL £129/week. Pension contributions on actual pay received per phase. Payslips may differ by ±£1–2 due to rounding.
How NHS Maternity Pay is Calculated: The 4 Phases
NHS maternity pay for Agenda for Change staff follows four distinct phases under AfC Handbook Section 15. Here is exactly how each phase is calculated.
Full Pay (Weeks 1–8)
For the first eight weeks of maternity leave, you receive your full normal pay. This full pay is inclusive of Statutory Maternity Pay — your employer pays your full salary and recovers the SMP element from HMRC. SMP is not added on top of your full pay.
For 2026/27, SMP in weeks 1–6 is 90% of your average weekly earnings (AWE) with no cap. From week 7, the flat rate of £194.32 per week applies (or 90% AWE if lower). Since most NHS salaries produce an AWE well above £215.91 per week, the flat rate applies to almost all AfC staff from week 7 onwards.
Half Pay + SMP (Weeks 9–26)
For the next 18 weeks, you will receive half your normal pay plus SMP. The combined amount is capped at your full pay rate under AfC Section 15. The calculator applies this cap automatically:
Half pay: £308.39/week · SMP: £194.32/week · Combined: £502.71/week (below full pay cap of £616.79 — no cap triggered)
Lower earner (£14,000):
Half pay: £134.62/week + SMP: £194.32 = £328.94 — exceeds full pay of £269.23/week
Phase 2 gross: £269.23/week (capped at full pay)
Most calculators miss this cap and overstate Phase 2 pay for lower earners.
SMP Only (Weeks 27–39)
For 13 weeks, you receive SMP only at £194.32 per week (2026/27 rate). Your pension contribution in this phase is based on the SMP amount only — Tier 1 (5.2%) for most staff, as the annualized SMP of £10,104.64 falls below the Tier 1 boundary of £13,259. Your pension accrual record continues as though you received full pay throughout.
Unpaid Leave (Weeks 40–52)
The final 13 weeks are unpaid. You do not have to take the full 52 weeks. NI credits are awarded automatically during unpaid leave. Your pension record is protected, and you can choose to pay additional contributions later to cover this period.
How to Calculate NHS Maternity Pay (Step by Step)
Find your Average Weekly Earnings (AWE)
Your AWE determines your SMP amount for the first six weeks and must be calculated using the official HMRC method, no rounding at any intermediate step.
AWE = (last 2 monthly payslips ÷ 2) × 12 ÷ 52
Example — Band 6 on £39,959:
Monthly gross: £39,959 ÷ 12 = £3,329.92
AWE: (£3,329.92 × 2 ÷ 2) × 12 ÷ 52 = £768.44/week
4-weekly paid: AWE = sum of last 2 four-weekly payslips ÷ 8
Weekly paid: AWE = sum of last 8 weekly payslips ÷ 8
Important: HCAS (London weighting) is included in AWE as regular contractual pay. Salary sacrifice reduces your AWE — a £200/month salary sacrifice on a £39,959 salary reduces AWE from £768.44 to £722.29, reducing your SMP in weeks 1–6.
Check your qualifying week
Your qualifying week is the 15th week before your expected week of childbirth (EWC). To qualify for SMP, you must:
- Have 26 weeks of continuous employment with your current employer by the end of the qualifying week
- Have AWE of £129/week or above (the Lower Earnings Limit for 2026/27)
- Give your employer 28 days notice before leave starts
Check your OMP eligibility
To qualify for NHS Occupational Maternity Pay (OMP), you must have 12 months of continuous NHS service by the start of the 11th week before your EWC. NHS service counts across different trusts; a gap in employment resets the clock, but service with different NHS employers counts cumulatively.
Calculate each phase
Enter your details into the calculator above. The calculator works out your take-home pay after:
- Income tax (cumulative PAYE, including Scottish tax bands)
- National Insurance (on monthly thresholds, never annualised)
- NHS Pension (on actual pay received per phase, not notional full pay)
- Student loan (Plan 1, 2, 4, 5 or Postgraduate, floored to nearest £1)
Your Key Maternity Dates
Enter your due date and the calculator works out all key dates automatically.
| Date | How it is calculated |
|---|---|
| Expected Week of Childbirth (EWC) | Sunday of the week containing your due date |
| Qualifying week | 15 weeks before EWC start (Sunday) |
| Notify employer by | End of qualifying week (Saturday) |
| Earliest leave start | 11 weeks before EWC |
| Sickness trigger date | 4 weeks before EWC, pregnancy-related illness auto-starts leave |
| Last SMP date | 38 weeks after the first day of leave (39 weeks SMP total) |
| Maternity leave ends | 52 weeks from the leave start date |
Spread OMP, Even Payments Across Your Leave
NHS trusts can spread your occupational maternity pay evenly across 9, 10, or 12 months, giving you a lower but more consistent monthly income. Only OMP can be spread; SMP cannot be spread and is always paid separately from week 9 of your leave.
| Period | Standard (phase-by-phase) | 12-month spread |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1–8 | Full pay | Spread OMP only (e.g. £874/mo) |
| Weeks 9–26 | Half pay + SMP (e.g. £2,178/mo) | Spread OMP + SMP (e.g. £1,716/mo) |
| Weeks 27–39 | SMP only (£842/mo) | Spread OMP + SMP (e.g. £1,716/mo) |
| Weeks 40–52 | £0 (unpaid) | Spread OMP continues (e.g., £874/mo) |
Total OMP = £10,485.40
Monthly spread OMP = £10,485.40 ÷ 52 × 52 ÷ 12 = £873.78/month
SMP added separately from week 9: £842.05/month
Combined weeks 9–39: £1,715.84/month
NHS Maternity Pay by Band (2026/27)
NHS Band 5 Maternity Pay Calculator
Mid-point salary £32,073 (England, full-time)
NHS Band 6 Maternity Pay Calculator
Salary £39,959 (England, full-time)
NHS Band 7 Maternity Pay Calculator
Salary £54,292 (England, full-time)
NHS Maternity Pay in Scotland
Scottish AfC staff follow the same OMP rules under AfC Handbook Section 15 but with important differences:
Full-time hours
36 hours per week (not 37.5). A 36-hour contract = 1.0 WTE in Scotland.
Scottish income tax
6 bands from 19% (starter) to 48% (top rate), applied using Scottish tax codes (S-prefix). Higher-rate threshold is £31,093 — lower than England’s £50,270.
Pension tiers
9 tiers (5.7%–12.7%), compared to 6 tiers in England/Wales.
Pay award
The 2026/27 AfC pay award for Scotland was 3.75% (England/Wales: 3.3%). The Alabaster warning in the calculator uses the correct rate per region.
Phase 1: £664.31/week gross, £2,167.25/month net (Scottish tax, Tier 4 at 8.7%)
Phase 2: £526.47/week gross, £1,811.49/month net
Phase 3: £794.06/month net (Tier 1 at 5.7%, slightly higher than England’s 5.2%)
NHS Maternity Pay, London HCAS
If you work in London, your High Cost Area Supplement (HCAS) is included in both your maternity pay calculation and your pension contribution base.
| HCAS Zone | Supplement (2026/27) | Effect on AWE |
|---|---|---|
| Inner London | £6,414.60/year | Increases AWE, higher SMP in weeks 1–6 |
| Outer London | — | Increases AWE |
| London Fringe | — | Increases AWE |
AWE: £38,487.60 ÷ 52 = £740.15/week (not £616.79 without HCAS)
Phase 1 pension: Tier 4 (9.8%) on £38,487.60 = £314.05/month
Without HCAS in pension base: Tier 3 (8.3%) — an error most calculators make.
Salary Sacrifice and NHS Maternity Pay
If you have salary sacrifice arrangements — cycle to work, additional pension contributions (AVCs), buy additional leave, or childcare (legacy schemes) — your salary sacrifice reduces your AWE.
Monthly after sacrifice: £3,129.92
AWE: (£3,129.92 × 12) ÷ 52 = £722.29/week (reduced from £768.44)
SMP weeks 1–6: £722.29 × 90% = £650.06/week (reduced from £691.60)
SMP reduction: £41.54/week for 6 weeks = £249.24 less SMP
What Happens If You Don’t Return to Work?
If you do not return to NHS employment for at least 3 months after maternity leave, you must repay the Occupational Maternity Pay (OMP) element of your maternity pay. SMP from the government is never repayable.
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Total gross maternity pay received | £8,000 |
| SMP portion (government-funded, never repayable) | £6,000 |
| OMP portion (trust-funded, repayable if no return) | £2,000 |
Bank Staff NHS Maternity Pay
Bank staff without a substantive NHS contract are not eligible for OMP. They receive SMP only, provided they meet the SMP eligibility criteria:
SMP eligibility for bank staff:
- 26 weeks of continuous employment with the bank employer by the qualifying week
- AWE of £129/week or above (LEL 2026/27)
NHS Maternity Pay and Your Pension
Your NHS pension continues during maternity leave, with important rules:
| Phase | Your contribution is deducted from | Accrual record based on |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1–8 (full pay) | Actual full pay received | Full deemed pay ✓ |
| Weeks 9–26 (half pay + SMP) | Actual half pay + SMP received | Full deemed pay ✓ |
| Weeks 27–39 (SMP only) | SMP received (if continuing) | Full deemed pay ✓ |
| Weeks 40–52 (unpaid) | No deduction | Protected ✓ |
The pension tier used in each phase is based on the actual pay received, not your full salary. This means your tier correctly steps down as your pay reduces across phases — a detail that affects your monthly net figures.
Regional Differences for NHS Maternity Pay
| Nation | Tax treatment | Pension tiers | FT hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | UK bands: 20%/40%/45% | 6 tiers (5.2%–12.5%) | 37.5 | Standard |
| Scotland | Scottish bands: 19%–48% | 9 tiers (5.7%–12.7%) | 36 | S-prefix tax code |
| Wales | UK bands, C-prefix | 6 tiers (5.2%–12.5%) | 37.5 | Same rates as England |
| Northern Ireland | UK bands | 6 tiers (5.2%–12.7%) NI rates | 37.5 | Employer rate: 23.2% |
Related NHS Pay Calculators
NHS Take-Home Pay Calculator
Current take-home pay for any band and region
→ Part-TimeNHS Part-Time Pay Calculator
Pro-rata pay with WTE to two decimal places
→ Pay RiseNHS Pay Rise Calculator
See your new take-home after the 2026/27 pay award
→ ScotlandNHS Scotland Pay Calculator
Scottish tax bands and 9 pension tiers
→ LondonNHS London Pay Calculator
HCAS all four zones, pensionable
→ Sick PayNHS Sick Pay Calculator
Based on your total NHS service under AfC Section 14
→ PensionNHS Pension Calculator
Employer 23.7% contribution and your accrual record
→Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about NHS maternity pay, phases, AWE calculation, and your exact take-home pay week by week.
AfC staff receive 8 weeks of full pay, 18 weeks of half pay plus SMP (capped at full pay), 13 weeks of SMP only at £194.32/week, then unpaid leave. Your exact take-home depends on your salary, contracted hours, region, and deductions. Use the calculator above for your precise figures.
The Statutory Maternity Pay rate for 2026/27 is £194.32 per week from 6 April 2026, or 90% of your average weekly earnings for the first 6 weeks if that is higher. The Lower Earnings Limit is £129/week.
Your Average Weekly Earnings are calculated from your last two monthly payslips before your qualifying week using the formula: (total ÷ 2) × 12 ÷ 52. No rounding is applied until the final SMP figure. Your phase pay is then calculated at full pay, half pay plus SMP (capped), SMP only, then unpaid.
No. Under AfC Section 15, half pay plus SMP is capped at your full pay rate. If the combined amount would exceed your full pay, your half pay is reduced. The calculator enforces this cap — most calculators do not.
The calculator applies income tax using cumulative PAYE, National Insurance on monthly thresholds, pension contributions on actual pay received per phase, and student loan deductions floored to the nearest pound per HMRC rules. Your monthly net take-home is shown for each phase.
Yes. You can ask your trust to spread your OMP over 9, 10, or 12 months. Only OMP can be spread; SMP cannot. Use the Spread Payments option in the calculator to compare standard and spread amounts.
Keeping in Touch days allow you to work up to 10 days during maternity leave. You are paid your normal daily rate (annual salary ÷ 260 × WTE) for KIT days. SMP is not paid in weeks where KIT days are worked, but your employer pays your daily rate, which exceeds SMP.
Yes. Salary sacrifice reduces your AWE, which reduces your SMP in weeks 1–6. Your contractual phase pay is unaffected. The calculator shows the exact SMP reduction when a sacrifice amount is entered.
OMP entitlement is the same across the UK for AfC staff. However, Scotland uses a 36-hour full-time week, different pension tiers (9 tiers, 5.7%–12.7%), a different pay award rate (3.75% vs 3.3% in England), and Scottish income tax bands including the 21% intermediate rate. The calculator applies all of these correctly when Scotland is selected.
Enter your contracted hours. The calculator divides by 37.5 (36 in Scotland) to get your WTE, then applies your pro-rata salary to all phase calculations. Your pension tier is recalculated based on the pro-rata annual figure.
The qualifying week is the 15th week before your expected week of childbirth. You must have 26 weeks of continuous employment with your employer by the end of the qualifying week to qualify for SMP.
Bank staff without a substantive contract are not eligible for OMP. They may qualify for SMP if they have 26 weeks of continuous employment with the bank employer and earn above the LEL of £129/week.
If you do not qualify for SMP, you may be eligible for maternity allowance. Visit gov.uk/maternity-allowance or contact Jobcentre Plus.
Your total OMP (Phase 1 full pay + Phase 2 half pay element) is divided by 52 weeks and paid equally throughout the year. SMP is paid separately on top from week 9. The total you receive is identical to standard phase pay — only the timing differs.
AWE is calculated from the 8 weeks (two payslips for monthly-paid staff) ending on the last payday on or before the Saturday of your qualifying week — the 15th week before your EWC.
Updated 2026/27 | SMP rate £194.32/week (confirmed 6 April 2026) | AfC Handbook Section 15 | AWE calculated per HMRC rules, no intermediate rounding