You’re staring at a positive pregnancy test and, after the initial shock or joy fades, the very next thought is almost always: "How am I going to afford to not work?" It’s a massive question. Honestly, figuring out how long is maternity leave in the UK is like trying to solve a puzzle where the pieces keep changing shape depending on who you ask or what your contract says.
Most people think it’s a year. They’re technically right. But also, they're kinda wrong.
Let's get the big number out of the way first. Statutory Maternity Leave in the UK is 52 weeks. That’s a full year. You don't have to take the whole thing, obviously, but you must take at least two weeks off after the baby is born. If you work in a factory, that mandatory "get some rest" period jumps to four weeks because of health and safety rules.
Breaking down the 52-week timeline
It isn't just one big block of time. The government splits it into two distinct halves. You’ve got Ordinary Maternity Leave for the first 26 weeks, and then Additional Maternity Leave for the final 26 weeks.
Why does that distinction even matter?
Well, in the old days, your rights were slightly different in that second half, but nowadays, your right to return to your old job is pretty well protected throughout. The real kicker, the thing that actually keeps people up at night, isn't the time—it's the money.
Just because you can stay away from your desk for 52 weeks doesn't mean the government or your boss is going to pay you for all of them. In fact, they definitely won't. Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) only lasts for 39 weeks. If you stay off for the full year, those last 13 weeks—about three months—are completely unpaid. Zero. Zilch.
The 90% trap and the flat rate
For the first six weeks of your leave, you get 90% of your average weekly earnings before tax. This is usually the "golden period" where the mortgage feels manageable.
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After those six weeks? The drop-off is brutal.
For the remaining 33 weeks, you get either £184.03 a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings—whichever one is lower. Unless you're working a very low-hour part-time job, you're going to be hitting that £184.03 cap. When you compare that to a standard full-time salary in London or Manchester, it’s a pittance. It’s basically grocery money and a few packs of nappies.
The "Enhanced" reality: Does your boss actually like you?
Everything I just mentioned is the bare minimum. It’s the floor.
Many corporate employers, especially in sectors like tech, law, or finance, offer "Occupational Maternity Pay" or "Enhanced Maternity Pay." You might see a job advert bragging about "Full pay for 6 months." That is a game-changer.
Take a company like Deloitte or some of the big UK banks. They often offer significantly better terms to keep talent from jumping ship. But—and there's always a but—these packages usually come with strings attached. Often, you have to have worked there for a certain amount of time (usually a year) before you get pregnant. And sometimes, if you decide not to come back after your leave, they might ask for that extra money back.
Read your handbook. Don't just trust what Brian from accounts said at the Christmas party.
Eligibility: Not everyone gets the cash
This is where it gets messy. To get that 39 weeks of SMP, you have to pass the "continuous employment" test. You need to have worked for your employer for at least 26 weeks by the time you hit your "qualifying week," which is the 15th week before the baby is due.
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Basically, if you started a new job while you were already a few weeks pregnant, you might be in trouble for SMP.
What happens if you don't qualify? You aren't just left with nothing. You can usually claim Maternity Allowance (MA) through Jobcentre Plus. It’s still around £184.03 a week (or 90% of your earnings if less), and it still lasts 39 weeks. It’s the safety net for the self-employed, the newly employed, and those who don't earn enough to meet the Lower Earnings Limit.
Shared Parental Leave: The modern alternative
We can't talk about how long is maternity leave in the UK without mentioning that you can actually give some of that time away. Since 2015, parents have been able to "share" the leave.
If the mother ends her maternity leave early, the remaining weeks can be converted into Shared Parental Leave (SPL). This allows the partner to take time off too. You can even take it at the same time. Want to spend three months together at the start? You can do that, but it eats through your total 52-week pot twice as fast.
To be honest, the uptake for this in the UK has been pretty low. The pay is still the same statutory rate, and many dads or partners feel they can't afford to take the hit if they are the higher earner. It’s a great idea on paper that often fails the "can we pay the electricity bill" test.
KIT days: Staying in the loop
Working while on maternity leave sounds like a nightmare to some and a lifeline to others. You get 10 "Keeping in Touch" (KIT) days. These are optional. Your boss can't force you to do them, and you can't force your boss to let you do them.
The beauty of KIT days is that you get paid your normal daily rate (usually) without it ending your maternity leave or stopping your SMP. It’s a way to go to that one big strategy meeting or do some training so you don't feel like a total stranger when you finally walk back into the office.
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What about holidays?
This is a huge tip that people forget: you still accrue your normal annual leave while you are on maternity leave.
Think about that. If you take a full year off, you’ve still "earned" your 25 or 30 days of holiday for that year. Most women tack these holidays onto the beginning or the end of their maternity leave. This is a savvy way to get a few extra weeks of full pay before or after the statutory pay kicks in.
The reality check
Calculating how long is maternity leave in the UK is ultimately a financial decision for 90% of families.
Yes, the law says you can take a year.
The law also says you only get paid for nine months of it.
And for seven of those nine months, you’re living on less than £200 a week.
It's tough. It requires spreadsheets. It requires looking at your "qualifying week" and making sure your paperwork (the MAT B1 form you get from your midwife) is handed in on time—at least 15 weeks before your due date.
Actionable Next Steps
- Get the MAT B1 form. You can’t get paid without it. Your midwife will give this to you around the 20-week scan.
- Check your contract today. Don't wait. See if your employer offers enhanced pay. Look for the "clawback" clause where you might have to pay it back if you quit.
- Use a calculator. The GOV.UK maternity pay calculator is actually surprisingly good. Plug in your exact dates and salary to see the real numbers.
- Audit your annual leave. See how many days you can carry over. Tacking 25 days of full-pay holiday onto the end of 39 weeks of SMP is the best way to bridge the gap to a full year.
- Talk to your partner about SPL. Even if they only take a month, it can make a huge difference in those early sleep-deprived weeks.
The system isn't perfect, and it certainly isn't simple, but knowing the 39-versus-52 week split is the first step to making sure you aren't caught out by a dry bank account while you're trying to figure out how a car seat works.