The Maternity & Paternity Pay Calculator UK is a highly accurate, legally compliant, and user-friendly tool designed to help expectant parents and employers estimate Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP), Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP), and Shared Parental Pay (ShPP) based on UK government regulations. Navigating maternity, paternity, and parental leave entitlements can be complex, with rules depending on employment status, earnings, leave duration, due dates, and eligibility periods. This calculator simplifies the process by providing instant breakdowns of pay entitlements, helping parents plan financially and supporting employers in making accurate payroll decisions.
In the UK, statutory maternity pay is generally available to eligible employees for up to 39 weeks, with the following structure:
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First 6 weeks: 90% of the employee’s average weekly earnings (AWE) before tax
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Remaining 33 weeks: 90% of AWE or the government standard rate (whichever is lower)
The calculator factors in these rates automatically, including updates to government-set weekly caps.
For statutory paternity pay, eligible fathers or partners can typically receive 1 or 2 consecutive weeks, paid at either 90% of their AWE or the statutory minimum, whichever is lower. The calculator automatically applies these rules, helping users estimate payments accurately.
For modern families, Shared Parental Pay (ShPP) allows parents to split up to 37 weeks of paid leave after maternity leave has begun, provided they meet eligibility criteria. The calculator helps users explore different sharing scenarios, making it easy to compare payment structures based on parental leave planning.
For expectant parents, this tool provides valuable financial insight before taking leave. Users can input due dates, average weekly earnings, employment start dates, and leave preferences to receive a full pay breakdown. This helps families budget for childcare, monthly expenses, and time away from work without financial stress.
Employers, HR teams, and payroll administrators rely on legally accurate calculations to ensure proper compliance with HMRC and statutory employment laws. The calculator helps generate precise estimates for SMP, SPP, and ShPP, allowing HR teams to better advise staff, manage budgets, and process leave applications correctly.
Self-employed individuals and contractors, who may not be eligible for SMP or SPP, can use the calculator to determine whether they qualify for Maternity Allowance (MA). The tool provides basic guidance on eligibility and expected payment rates based on Class 2 National Insurance contributions and work history.
Financial advisors and family planners use this calculator to help clients plan maternity or paternity breaks while balancing mortgage payments, savings goals, and household budgets. By providing an accurate income forecast during leave, it enables better decision-making and financial preparedness.
The calculator also supports staff on adoption leave, surrogacy arrangements, and parental leave for same-sex couples by applying statutory rules relevant to their situation.
The interface is clean, intuitive, and mobile-friendly. Users simply enter:
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Average weekly earnings
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Employment start date and due date
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Leave plan (maternity, paternity, or shared)
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Number of leave weeks requested
The calculator instantly displays:
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Total statutory pay
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Weekly payment amounts
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Eligibility status
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Breakdown by pay phase (90% rate vs. statutory rate)
In summary, the Maternity & Paternity Pay Calculator UK is an essential, legally compliant, and practical tool for expectant parents, employers, HR professionals, payroll teams, and financial planners. With its clarity, precision, and real-world applicability, it empowers families to plan confidently and ensures accurate compliance for UK-based organizations.
