Am I Entitled to SMP Calculator
Estimate whether you are likely to qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay based on your due date, employment start date, average weekly earnings, and the applicable UK statutory rates.
Used to work out your expected week of childbirth and qualifying week.
You usually need 26 weeks of continuous employment into the qualifying week.
Enter your average weekly earnings in the relevant pay period.
This affects the Lower Earnings Limit and standard SMP weekly rate.
Optional. Helpful for planning, but not required for the core eligibility test.
This does not change the result if you already enter weekly average earnings, but it helps contextualise the assessment.
Expert guide: how an am I entitled to SMP calculator works
If you are expecting a baby and trying to budget for time away from work, one of the most important questions is whether you qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay, usually shortened to SMP. An am I entitled to SMP calculator is designed to answer that question quickly by checking the two key legal gateways most employees need to pass: length of continuous employment and average earnings. Once those are satisfied, the calculator can also estimate how much you may receive during the statutory pay period.
In the UK, SMP is a statutory payment employers usually make to eligible employees who are pregnant and taking maternity leave. In practice, many people know roughly that maternity pay lasts for 39 weeks, but they are less certain about the entitlement rules. That uncertainty is exactly why a calculator is useful. Instead of trying to count back from a due date manually or interpret payroll guidance, you can enter your dates and earnings and get a practical first estimate.
This page is built to reflect the standard UK rules used for typical SMP checks. It focuses on the rules most applicants need to understand first, and then explains where real life situations can add complexity, such as irregular earnings, recent job changes, or enhanced maternity packages written into an employment contract.
What are the main SMP eligibility rules?
For most employees, there are two headline tests. First, you must have been continuously employed by the same employer for at least 26 weeks into the qualifying week. Second, your average weekly earnings must be at or above the Lower Earnings Limit for National Insurance contributions in the relevant period. There are also notice and evidence requirements, including telling your employer you are pregnant and giving them the right form, usually the MATB1.
1. Continuous employment test
The qualifying week is the 15th week before the week your baby is due. Your employer generally looks at whether you were employed continuously for at least 26 weeks up to and including that qualifying week. This is why date counting matters so much. Someone who started work only a little too late may miss SMP even if they have worked for months by the time maternity leave begins.
2. Average earnings test
Your average weekly earnings must be at least equal to the Lower Earnings Limit in the relevant period. For many employees, this is a payroll calculation based on a specific earnings window before the qualifying week. The calculator on this page asks for your average weekly earnings directly, which makes it easier to estimate entitlement without reproducing a full payroll system.
3. Notice and evidence
Eligibility is not only about dates and money. In most cases you must notify your employer properly and provide medical evidence of pregnancy. If your employer decides you do not qualify, they should give you form SMP1 explaining why. That document can help if you need to claim Maternity Allowance instead.
How SMP is normally paid
Once you qualify, SMP is usually paid for up to 39 weeks. The payment structure is split into two parts:
- First 6 weeks: 90% of your average weekly earnings.
- Next 33 weeks: the lower of 90% of your average weekly earnings or the standard SMP weekly rate for the tax year.
This means higher earners often see a drop after week 6 because the standard statutory rate becomes the cap. Lower earners may continue receiving 90% of average weekly earnings if that figure is below the statutory weekly rate. An entitlement calculator therefore helps in two ways: it checks whether you likely qualify, and it provides a practical estimate of the likely payment pattern once leave starts.
| Tax year | Standard SMP weekly rate | Lower Earnings Limit for NI | Core note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 to 2024 | £172.48 | £123 per week | Weeks 7 to 39 are paid at the lower of 90% of average weekly earnings or this weekly rate. |
| 2024 to 2025 | £184.03 | £123 per week | This is the updated standard SMP weekly rate for the 2024 to 2025 tax year. |
Figures above reflect standard UK statutory rates commonly used for payroll guidance for those tax years.
How this calculator estimates whether you are entitled to SMP
The calculator follows a practical step by step logic. First, it identifies your expected week of childbirth from the due date you enter. In UK maternity law, weeks are generally considered from Sunday to Saturday for this type of calculation. The calculator then counts back 15 weeks to find the start of your qualifying week. After that, it assesses whether your employment start date is early enough for you to have 26 weeks of continuous employment by the end of the qualifying week.
Next, it compares the average weekly earnings you entered against the Lower Earnings Limit for the chosen tax year. If your earnings meet or exceed that threshold and your dates satisfy the employment rule, the calculator marks you as likely entitled to SMP. It then estimates your payment schedule across the statutory 39 week payment period.
What this tool does not do is replace your employer’s payroll reference period or resolve every edge case in the law. For example, if your pay varies because of bonuses, salary sacrifice, unpaid leave, or a recent pay rise, the exact payroll calculation can differ from a simple estimate. Still, for most employees, this kind of calculator gives a strong first indication of whether SMP is likely.
Why people are refused SMP
Most refusals happen for one of three reasons: the employee started work too late to meet the 26 week rule, average weekly earnings fall below the Lower Earnings Limit, or the worker is not legally classed as an employee for SMP purposes. The timing issue is especially common. A person may have worked for the employer for several months by the time they begin leave, yet still miss SMP because the legal test looks back to the qualifying week rather than the leave start date.
Another common point of confusion is the difference between maternity leave entitlement and maternity pay entitlement. Employees can be entitled to maternity leave but not necessarily to SMP. In that situation, Maternity Allowance may be the alternative financial support route.
If you do not qualify for SMP
- Ask your employer for form SMP1 if they decide you are not eligible.
- Check whether you can claim Maternity Allowance instead.
- Review your contract because some employers offer occupational or enhanced maternity pay.
- If your pay or dates seem wrong, ask payroll how they calculated the relevant period.
| Feature | Statutory Maternity Pay | Maternity Allowance |
|---|---|---|
| Who usually pays it | Your employer through payroll | The state, via a benefits claim process |
| Main gateway | Employee status, 26 weeks continuous employment, earnings test | Work history and earnings conditions for those who do not qualify for SMP |
| Typical duration | Up to 39 weeks | Usually up to 39 weeks |
| Why comparison matters | You may lose SMP if you started the job too late even though you are pregnant and working | Can provide financial support where SMP is unavailable |
Worked example
Suppose your baby is due on 20 November 2024, you started with your employer on 1 March 2024, and your average weekly earnings are £350. The calculator first identifies the expected week of childbirth from your due date, then counts back to the qualifying week. If your start date falls early enough to show 26 weeks of continuous employment into that week, you pass the service test. Since £350 is above the Lower Earnings Limit, you also pass the earnings test. Your estimated pay would then be:
- Weeks 1 to 6 at 90% of £350, which is £315 per week.
- Weeks 7 to 39 at the lower of £315 and the standard SMP weekly rate for the chosen tax year.
- Total SMP equal to the sum of those two phases.
This is why the first six weeks often look relatively generous compared with the remainder. The statutory cap bites after week 6 for many employees whose earnings are above the weekly SMP rate.
Common questions about an am I entitled to SMP calculator
Does a late maternity leave start date affect SMP entitlement?
Not usually in the way many people think. The key service test is anchored to the qualifying week, not to the day you plan to start leave. Your leave start date is still useful for planning, but it generally does not rescue a failed continuous employment test if your start date was too late.
What if my earnings change before maternity leave starts?
Only certain earnings in the relevant period count for the statutory calculation. A later pay rise can matter in some situations, but not every change affects SMP in the same way. If your earnings are near the Lower Earnings Limit, ask payroll or HR to confirm the exact reference period they used.
Can agency workers get SMP?
It depends on employment status. SMP is linked to employee status and payroll arrangements. Some workers who do not qualify for SMP may still qualify for Maternity Allowance. This is one area where personal circumstances matter a lot.
What if I have more than one job?
Each job is assessed separately. You might qualify for SMP from one employer and not another depending on your start dates and earnings in each employment.
How to improve the accuracy of your result
- Use the expected due date your midwife or doctor has given you.
- Enter the exact date you started working for your employer, not the date of a job offer.
- Use an accurate average weekly earnings figure based on your payroll records.
- If you are close to the threshold, ask payroll for the exact relevant period calculation.
- Check whether your employer offers enhanced maternity terms on top of SMP.
Authoritative sources you should review
If you need a definitive answer, the best next step is to compare your estimate with official guidance. The following sources are especially useful:
- GOV.UK: Statutory Maternity Pay and Leave
- GOV.UK: Maternity Allowance
- nidirect.gov.uk: Maternity pay and leave
Final takeaway
An am I entitled to SMP calculator is most useful when you need a fast, practical view of whether you are likely to qualify under the standard UK rules. The heart of the check is simple: were you employed continuously for long enough by the qualifying week, and were your average weekly earnings high enough in the relevant period? If the answer to both is yes, you are likely to qualify for SMP, subject to the usual notice and evidence requirements. If the answer is no, do not assume you have no support available. You may still be eligible for Maternity Allowance, and your employer may also offer contractual maternity pay that is more generous than the statutory minimum.
Use the calculator above as a first screening tool, then confirm the result with your employer, payroll team, or official government guidance. That approach gives you the best chance of planning your leave, cash flow, and return to work with confidence.