NHS Maternity Dates Planner

Worked example: a due date of 15 March 2027

These dates come from the planner for someone due on Monday 15 March 2027, starting leave four weeks before the due week, with continuous NHS service since 1 January 2020.

When can I start maternity leave?

Under the NHS scheme you can choose your start date, usually any date from the beginning of the 11th week before the expected week of childbirth until the expected week itself (Handbook 15.15(ii)(b) and 15.25). The expected week of childbirth is the week, Sunday to Saturday, that contains your due date. Most people start between four and eight weeks before it, but it is your choice. If you are off with a pregnancy-related illness in the last four weeks before the expected week, leave normally starts at the beginning of the fourth week before, or the week after you last worked if that is later (15.26), and odd days of pregnancy-related illness can be disregarded if you want to keep working until your notified date (15.27).

MATB1, the 15th week and when to tell your employer

To get occupational maternity pay you must notify your employer in writing before the end of the 15th week before your expected date of childbirth. The notice must say that you intend to take maternity leave, the date you want it to start, that you intend to return to work with the same or another NHS employer for at least three months after your leave, and it must come with a MATB1 from your midwife or GP (15.15(ii)). If it is not possible to meet the deadline, give notice as soon as reasonably practicable after. GOV.UK says a MATB1 is issued no more than 20 weeks before the due date, so there is a window of about five weeks in which you can get it and still be in time. Our maternity leave entitlement and rights guide covers the rights in full.

The qualifying week, explained

Two tests use the expected week of childbirth. The statutory qualifying week is the 15th week before it: for statutory maternity pay you need to have been employed continuously for at least 26 weeks continuing into that week and to earn on average at least £129 a week (GOV.UK). The NHS occupational scheme asks for 12 months' continuous NHS service (with one or more NHS employers) at the beginning of the 11th week before the expected week (15.15(i)). The planner shows both weeks and checks your service start date against the second.

Your 52 weeks and the pay phases

The occupational scheme pays 8 weeks of full pay (less statutory maternity pay), then 18 weeks of half pay plus statutory maternity pay, then 13 weeks of statutory pay only, and the last 13 weeks are unpaid (15.21, 15.24). No pay is paid after week 39, but you stay on leave with your job protected. Your employer can agree to pay occupational pay in a different way, for example spread equally over the leave (15.22). See your pay after tax and our returning to work guide.

KIT days and your return date

You can work up to 10 keeping in touch days without ending your leave, once the two weeks of compulsory leave after the birth have passed (15.70, 15.72). At the end of the full 52 weeks you return without giving any further notice (15.78). If you want to return earlier you must give at least 28 days' notice. If you want to return part-time or on different hours the NHS employer has a duty to facilitate this wherever possible (15.80), and the Handbook gives staff a day-one right to request flexible working (Section 33), so you can ask before you return.

Repaying maternity pay: the 15-month window

If you told your employer you intended to return and do not return within 15 months of the beginning of your leave, you are liable to refund the whole of your occupational maternity pay less the statutory pay you received, though your employer can waive this for undue hardship or distress (15.83). If there is no right of return to exercise because your contract would have ended anyway, the refund does not apply (15.86). Our guide to repaying NHS maternity pay if you do not return explains what can happen and what to ask for.

Annual leave while you are on maternity leave

You keep accruing annual leave and public holidays for the whole of your leave (15.94). In practice many people take accrued leave just before leave starts or straight after their return date, which can bring your actual return forward, or have it paid in lieu if the trust agrees (15.95). The NHS annual leave calculator works out your entitlement around maternity leave.

Partner leave and sharing leave

If your partner also works, you may be able to share some of your 52 weeks of leave and 39 weeks of pay. Use the shared parental leave planner for the split, notice deadlines and pay, and read our paternity and shared parental leave guide.

• ✓ Ask your midwife or GP for your MATB1 as soon as you can have it, no more than 20 weeks before the due date
• ✓ Give written notice, with the MATB1, before the end of the 15th week before the due date
• ✓ Choose your start date, and tell HR 28 days before if you change it
• ✓ Ask HR to confirm your paid and unpaid entitlements and your expected return date in writing
• ✓ Agree your KIT days and how to use your accrued annual leave before you go
• ✓ Think about childcare for your return: our childcare cost calculator compares working patterns