Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)
When an employee is pregnant, it’s imperative that they receive the correct maternity pay and leave entitlement that they deserve. As a business, working out how much pay a pregnant employee is entitled to and if they meet the eligibility criteria can be a prolonged process.
Payroll with Perks are able to take this process off your hands, providing a range of outsourced, part managed bureau and fully managed payroll solutions to ensure your employees’ Statutory Maternity Pay is processed and delivered accurately and on time.
If eligible, employees are entitled to receive Statutory Maternity Leave, Statutory Maternity Pay, paid time off for antenatal care (including medical appointments and classes) and additional Government help when pregnant.
Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is paid the same way an employee is paid their weekly/monthly wages for up to 39 weeks – tax and national insurance will also be deducted. For the first 6 weeks of SMP, those who are eligible receive 90% of their average weekly earnings and thereafter, they receive 90% of their weekly average earnings (or £139.58) for the remaining 33 weeks.
To be eligible for Statutory Maternity Pay, an employee must:
- Provide sufficient notice (they will need to notify their employer at least 15 weeks before they are due and 28 days notice for when they would like SMP to start)
- Have worked consistently for the employer for a period of 26 weeks up until the ‘qualifying week’, which is the 15th week prior to the expected childbirth
- Earn a minimum of £112 a week
- Provide supporting proof that they’re pregnant – this can be a doctor’s/midwife’s letter or a MATB1 certificate
Normally, Statutory Maternity Pay starts as soon as you take maternity leave. Maternity leave can start:
- As early as 11 weeks before an employee’s baby is due
- The day following an early childbirth
- If an employee is off work from a pregnancy-related illness within the 4 weeks prior to week before the baby’s due date
To be eligible for Maternity Leave, the employee must be classified as such – not a ‘worker’.
Visit our outsourced payroll solutions page for more information on how Payroll with Perks can help remove time-consuming payroll admin and procedures from your working day. Our expertise and attentiveness ensures your employees’ Statutory Maternity Pay is recorded and paid correctly and reliably.
For the complete, in-depth guidelines on Statutory Maternity Pay entitlement, eligibility and exceptions, please visit the Gov website.
How much is Statutory Maternity Pay?
A. In the first 6 weeks of Statutory Maternity Pay, eligible employees can receive 90% of their average weekly earnings and then 90% of their weekly average earnings (or £139.58) after that. Use the SMP calculator to work out an employee’s maternity leave and pay.
How long is Maternity Leave?
A. Maternity leave adds up to 52 weeks in total.This does not have to be taken completely, however an employee must take 2 weeks’ leave (4 weeks if working in a factory) after their child is born.
What are an employee’s maternity rights?
A. Whilst on Maternity Leave and receiving Statutory Maternity Pay, an employee’s employment rights are protected. Employees have rights to pay rises, accrue of holiday and return to work.
