When Is Maternity Pay Calculated NHS
NHS maternity pay is calculated from your average weekly earnings over a set reference period before your maternity leave starts. For Statutory Maternity Pay, the reference period is the eight weeks ending with the 15th week before your due week. For NHS occupational maternity pay, the calculation follows the NHS terms and conditions and uses a similar averaging approach.
Timing matters because overtime, enhancements and bank shifts in that window count towards the average, while periods after it do not. If you plan to reduce hours late in pregnancy, doing so before the reference period can lower the average, while extra shifts inside it raise it. Understanding the window helps you plan, although health always comes first.
The payment itself is split into phases: full pay for the first weeks under the occupational scheme, then half pay plus Statutory Maternity Pay, then Statutory Maternity Pay alone. The exact split depends on your length of service and the current NHS terms, so confirm the details with your manager and payroll.
- Reference period: eight weeks ending with the 15th week before due week.
- Overtime and enhancements inside the window count towards the average.
- Pay phases: full pay, then half pay plus SMP, then SMP alone.
Try the free calculator to work out your own figures in seconds.