NHS Maternity Pay Calculator
NHS staff with 12 months’ continuous service get occupational maternity pay on top of Statutory Maternity Pay.
Updated 2026-10-03 · 2026/27 HMRC rates
NHS Agenda for Change staff with 12 months' continuous NHS service by the 11th week before the expected week of childbirth get: 8 weeks at full pay (less any SMP or Maternity Allowance received), then 18 weeks at half pay plus SMP (not exceeding full pay), then 13 weeks of SMP only, then up to 13 weeks unpaid. Occupational pay depends on intending to return to NHS work for at least 3 months; otherwise it may have to be repaid. Staff without 12 months' service may still get SMP if they qualify.
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Key facts
- England 2025/26: Agenda for Change staff received a 3.6% pay rise, backdated to 1 April 2025 (DHSC, 22 May 2025).
- England 2026/27: the NHS Pay Review Body (39th report, 12 February 2026) recommended a consolidated 3.3% rise for all AfC pay points from 1 April 2026; NHS Employers has published the 2026/27 rates following the government's announcement.
- England 2026/27 pay runs from £25,272 (Band 2) to £129,783 (top of Band 9). Band 1 is closed to new entrants.
- Pay progression: Bands 2–3 reach the top after 2 years, Band 4 after 3 years, Band 5 has steps at 2 and 4 years, and Bands 6–9 have steps at 2 and 5 years.
- London weighting (HCAS) 2026/27: Inner London 20% of basic pay (£5,794–£8,746), Outer London 15% (£4,870–£6,137), Fringe 5% (£1,346–£2,270).
- NHS Pension (England & Wales) member contributions from 1 April 2026 range from 5.2% (pensionable pay up to £13,259) to 12.5% (£67,669 and above).
- Scotland: a two-year deal gave 4.25% in 2025/26 (raised to 4.4% after the inflation guarantee was triggered, paid from February 2026 with arrears in March) and 3.75% from 1 April 2026 (circular PCS(AFC)2026/1).
- Scotland 2026/27 pay runs from £26,557 (Band 1) to £133,044 (top of Band 9). Scotland has its own pension tiers, from 5.7% to 12.7%.
Related
Worked example: maternity pay for a Band 5 nurse
Take a full-time Band 5 at the top of the 2026/27 scale on £39,043, which is about £750.83 a week. With 12 months' NHS service she qualifies for occupational maternity pay as well as Statutory Maternity Pay.
| Period | What is paid | Weekly gross | Total gross |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1 to 8 | Full pay (including SMP) | £750.83 | £6,007 |
| Weeks 9 to 26 | Half pay plus SMP | £569.73 | £10,255 |
| Weeks 27 to 39 | SMP only | £194.32 | £2,526 |
| Weeks 40 to 52 | Unpaid | £0 | £0 |
| Total | £18,788 |
If you do not have 12 months of NHS service
Without 12 months' continuous NHS service by the 11th week before the expected week of childbirth, you can still get Statutory Maternity Pay if you meet the statutory tests. You need to have worked for your employer continuously for at least 26 weeks into the qualifying week, which is the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth, and earn on average at least £129 a week.
SMP is 90% of your average weekly earnings for the first 6 weeks, then £194.32 or 90% of average earnings, whichever is lower, for 33 weeks. For the Band 5 above, SMP alone would be about £10,467 in total, around £8,321 less than with occupational pay.
Occupational maternity pay at different bands
Because the first 26 weeks are linked to your salary, the value of the NHS scheme over SMP alone grows with your band. Gross totals over the 52 weeks for full-time staff on 2026/27 pay:
| Band and point | Salary | NHS occupational + SMP | SMP only | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 3, entry | £25,760 | £14,445 | £9,088 | £5,358 |
| Band 5, top (after 4 years) | £39,043 | £18,788 | £10,467 | £8,321 |
| Band 6, top (after 5 years) | £48,117 | £21,754 | £11,409 | £10,345 |
| Band 7, top (after 5 years) | £56,515 | £24,500 | £12,281 | £12,219 |
| Band 8a, top (after 5 years) | £64,750 | £27,192 | £13,137 | £14,056 |
Statutory leave rules that apply alongside NHS terms
NHS occupational pay sits on top of the statutory scheme, so the legal leave rules still apply.
- Statutory Maternity Leave is 52 weeks: 26 weeks of Ordinary Maternity Leave and 26 weeks of Additional Maternity Leave.
- The earliest you can usually start leave is 11 weeks before the expected week of childbirth.
- You must take at least 2 weeks after the birth, or 4 weeks if you work in a factory.
- Leave starts automatically if you are off work with a pregnancy-related illness in the 4 weeks before the week your baby is due, or the day after the birth if the baby arrives early.
- You must give at least 8 weeks' notice to change your return date.
Tax, NI and pension on maternity pay
Both SMP and occupational maternity pay are paid through payroll, and income tax and National Insurance are deducted as normal. Because pay drops sharply in the half-pay and SMP-only periods, a cumulative tax code often produces lower tax, or even refunds, in those months.
Your employment rights are protected during maternity leave: you keep accruing holiday and benefit from any pay rises. Holiday that builds up can usually be taken before or after maternity leave; agree the dates with your manager before leave starts.
Planning checklist
Most of the money questions can be settled before you go on leave.
- Confirm your continuous NHS service date with HR, and ask whether earlier NHS employment counts towards it.
- Decide whether you intend to return. Occupational pay depends on returning to NHS work for at least 3 months.
- Check whether a salary sacrifice scheme, such as a lease car, will continue during leave and what it costs.
- Work out the accrued annual leave you can take before or after maternity leave.
- Look at Shared Parental Leave if your partner will take some of the time.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to return to the NHS after maternity leave?
To keep occupational maternity pay you normally need to return to NHS work for at least 3 months, otherwise you may have to repay the non-statutory part.
Do I get NHS maternity pay with less than a year of service?
Not the occupational scheme, but you may still get SMP: 90% of average weekly earnings for 6 weeks, then £194.32 (or 90% if lower) for 33 weeks.
Is maternity pay taxed?
Yes. SMP and occupational maternity pay are paid through payroll with income tax and NI deducted as normal.
When can I start NHS maternity leave?
Usually from 11 weeks before the expected week of childbirth. It starts automatically if you are off with a pregnancy-related illness in the 4 weeks before the due week.
Do I keep accruing annual leave on maternity leave?
Yes. Holiday continues to build up during maternity leave, and you can usually take it before or after your leave.
Sources
Figures are taken from official government publications and were last reviewed on 2026-10-03.
- NHS Employers – Pay scales for 2025/26
- DHSC – NHS pay awards 2025 to 2026: Agenda for Change staff
- NHSBSA – Cost of being in the Scheme (contribution tiers)
- NHS Employers – Pay scales for 2026/27
- NHS Pay Review Body Thirty-Ninth Report 2026
- Scottish Government circular PCS(AFC)2026/1 – AfC pay 2025-26 and 2026-27
- SPPA – NHS Scotland member contributions
- NHS Employers: NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook
- GOV.UK: Maternity pay and leave – pay
- GOV.UK: Maternity pay and leave – leave
- GOV.UK: Maternity pay and leave – eligibility
- HMRC: Salary sacrifice and the effects on PAYE