You qualify for this if you:

• Started working for your current employer before you became pregnant (you were working for your employer for at least 26 weeks by the end of the 15th week before the week your baby is due)
• Earn at least £123 a week on average

How much will I get?

This is paid for up to 39 weeks at 2 different rates:

• For the first 6 weeks, you’ll get 90% of your average weekly earnings
• For the other 33 weeks you’ll either get £184.03 a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is lower

If you decide not to go back to work, you won’t have to repay this money. 

When does it start?

This can start from:

• When you go on maternity leave – you can do this any time from your 29th week of pregnancy
• The day after your first full day of absence if you go off sick with a pregnancy-related illness in the 4 weeks before your baby is due 
• The day your baby is born if this is before you go on maternity leave

You’ll need to tell your employer exactly when you want your Statutory Maternity Pay to start – at least 28 days before you want this to start. You also have to give them proof that you’re pregnant 15 weeks or more before your baby is due.

When your Statutory Maternity Pay ends, you might be able to claim Universal Credit if you don’t go back to work or are on a low income. And if you can’t go back to work because of your health, you might be able to claim new-style Employment and Support Allowance.

If you can’t get Statutory Maternity Pay, you might be eligible for Maternity Allowance from the government. You can claim this if you’re self-employed or have just started, changed or ended a job.

You can get this if, during the 66 weeks (one year and 14 weeks) before your baby is due, you:

• Have been employed for any 26 weeks (they don’t have to be in a row) 
• Have average weekly earnings of £30 or more in at least 13 weeks. These weeks don’t have to be in a row, and you can add together earnings from more than one job 

If you’re self-employed, the rules are slightly different. Use the government’s calculator to see if you qualify.  

How much will I get?

For up to 39 weeks, you can get £184.03 a week, or 90% of your average earnings, whichever is lower.

When does it start?

When you’re 26 weeks pregnant, you can make a claim for Maternity Allowance.  If you can’t fill in the form online, you can ask for one to be posted to you. It can take up to 20 working days for the decision to come through. If you qualify, you’ll be paid every 2 or 4 weeks from 11 weeks before your baby is due.

If you don’t qualify, you’ll automatically be considered for new-style Employment and Support Allowance without having to make a separate claim.

Bear in mind that getting Maternity Allowance might affect other benefits you’re getting.

Parents can share up to 37 weeks of pay between them. The rules for this are complicated, so either talk to us or read more on gov.uk.

For 2 weeks you’ll be paid £184.03 a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is lower. 

If you decide not to go back to work, you don’t have to repay this.

When does it start?

You can be paid on or after your child’s birth. Your time off has to finish within 8 weeks of either: 

• The birth
• The expected date of birth if your baby comes early
• The adoption placement

You have to ask your employer for Statutory Paternity Pay at least 15 weeks before the baby is due. You can claim by filling in the online form on gov.uk, or by using your employer’s form if they have one. If you’re adopting a child, you need to ask your employer at least 28 days before you want it to start and fill in form SC4 on gov.uk or your employer’s form. 

If you’re looking after your child by yourself because your partner has died, you might be able to have extra parental leave and pay.

Parents can share up to 37 weeks of pay between them. The rules for this are complicated, so either talk to us or read more on gov.uk.

This is for adopting parents who:

• Were working for their employer for at least 26 weeks before the week they were matched with a child 
• Earn at least £123 a week on average

How much will I get?

This is paid for up to 39 weeks at 2 different rates:

• For the first 6 weeks, you’ll get 90% of your average weekly earnings
• For the other 33 weeks you’ll either get £84.03 a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is lower

If you decide not to go back to work, you won’t have to repay this money. 

When your Statutory Adoption Pay ends, you might be able to claim Universal Credit if you don’t go back to work or are on a low income. And if you can’t go back to work because of your health, you might be able to claim new-style Employment and Support Allowance.

When does it start?

It can start any time from 14 days before your child is due to be placed with you, or from the time they arrive if this is earlier. If possible, you need to tell your employer 28 days before you want your pay to start.

If you don’t qualify for Statutory Adoption Pay, you might be able to claim Universal Credit. You may also be able to get help from your local authority or the adoption agency. First4Adoption has more about financial support for adopting parents.

Parents can share up to 37 weeks of pay between them. The rules for this are complicated, so either talk to us or read more on gov.uk.

If you qualify for Child Benefit, you’ll get £25.60 a week for your first child and £16.95 a week for each of your other children. To claim, fill in form CH2 and send it to the address on the form. If you need help, you can ring the Child Benefit Helpline on 0300 200 3100.

You may be able to top up your income through Universal Credit while you’re having time off with your child. The amount you’ll be able to claim will depend on things like your income, including your maternity pay. Child Benefit and child maintenance payments don’t count as income.

If this is your first child, you can get a £500 Sure Start Maternity Grant through Universal Credit. 

You can claim for this from 11 weeks before your baby is due until 6 months after they’re born. If you’re adopting, you have to make a claim within 6 months of the adoption. And your child has to be less than a year old when you claim.

You can make a claim online or get a form from your midwife, doctor or health visitor. You’ll have to get a health professional to sign it to confirm that you’ve had advice about your own and your baby’s health.

If you can’t work because you’re ill or disabled, you may be able to claim new-style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). You might be able to claim it for a short time if you were turned down for Maternity Allowance. You can claim it from 6 weeks before your baby is due until 2 weeks after they’re born.

To qualify for this support, you must have made enough National Insurance contributions over the past 2-3 years. And you can only claim this if you’re not getting Statutory Sick Pay from your employer.

Whether you can get affordable and suitable childcare will be a big factor in your decision about going back to work. You might be able to get help with the costs of childcare through Universal Credit or Working Tax Credit. 

Our page on childcare goes into more detail. There’s also some very useful information about childcare on gov.uk – including a calculator to see what help you could get.