Example result based on the prefilled values.
Weeks 1-6 Weekly Pay
£450.00
Weeks 7-39 Weekly Pay
£194.32
Total SMP
£9,112.56
Enhanced Pay
£0.00
Total Maternity Pay
£9,112.56
Monthly Average
£1,011.73
Continue your plan
Useful next calculations
Rates & sources2026/27
2026/27 statutory maternity rates for an employee who qualifies. The tool does not assess service, notice or eligibility conditions.
Source: DWP — Benefit and pension rates 2026 to 2027 — source checked for 2026/27.
When to use this calculator
- Before comparing lenders, brokers, or repayment options.
- When you want to test how a different deposit, rate, or term changes affordability.
- When you need a quick estimate before using a formal quote or agreement in principle.
- When you are stress-testing your budget against a potential rate rise to see the impact on monthly payments.
- When you want to understand the full cost of borrowing — not just the monthly figure — before you commit.
A realistic UK planning example
Use these sample inputs as a quick scenario test, then change one variable at a time to compare outcomes.
Average Weekly Earnings (£)
25 years
Total Maternity Leave
39 weeks (SMP period)
Enhanced Maternity Pay from Employer?
No - Statutory only
After entering these figures, review weeks 1-6 weekly pay, weeks 7-39 weekly pay and total smp together rather than in isolation — each metric tells a different part of the story. Then rerun the tool with one input adjusted to see which variable has the biggest effect on all three outputs before you settle on a plan.
How to read your results
Weeks 1-6 Weekly Pay
Use this metric to compare scenarios side by side and understand how changes in the key inputs drive the final outcome. If the figure surprises you, isolate one variable at a time and rerun the calculation to identify which assumption is responsible.
Weeks 7-39 Weekly Pay
Use this metric to compare scenarios side by side and understand how changes in the key inputs drive the final outcome. If the figure surprises you, isolate one variable at a time and rerun the calculation to identify which assumption is responsible.
Total SMP
This is the headline outcome of the calculation, but it is most useful when read alongside the supporting metrics below it rather than in isolation. Try changing one input at a time and watching how this total moves to understand which driver has the biggest impact.
Enhanced Pay
Use this metric to compare scenarios side by side and understand how changes in the key inputs drive the final outcome. If the figure surprises you, isolate one variable at a time and rerun the calculation to identify which assumption is responsible.
Total Maternity Pay
This is the headline outcome of the calculation, but it is most useful when read alongside the supporting metrics below it rather than in isolation. Try changing one input at a time and watching how this total moves to understand which driver has the biggest impact.
Monthly Average
Use this metric to compare scenarios side by side and understand how changes in the key inputs drive the final outcome. If the figure surprises you, isolate one variable at a time and rerun the calculation to identify which assumption is responsible.
Method & assumptionsAuthoritative sources
This calculator estimates gross 2026/27 Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) for someone who qualifies. The first six weeks are paid at 90% of average weekly earnings without an upper cap. Weeks 7 to 39 are paid at the lower of £194.32 a week or 90% of average weekly earnings. It applies selected employer-enhanced pay first, then the statutory model for the rest of the 39-week period.
The statutory lower earnings limit is £129 a week in 2026/27, but the tool does not test the service, earnings-period, notice or employment-status requirements. Weeks 40 to 52 are unpaid unless an employer contract provides more. All figures are before tax and National Insurance; check your employer policy and GOV.UK for your actual entitlement.
Common mistakes
- !Mixing up loan amount and property value, which can distort affordability and LTV.
- !Using a headline rate but forgetting fees, insurance, taxes, or repayment type.
- !Testing only one term length instead of comparing the payment and total cost together.
- !Forgetting that a repayment mortgage and an interest-only mortgage produce very different monthly figures and total costs.
- !Not accounting for the impact of a rate revert after an introductory fixed period ends, which can sharply increase payments.
What to do next
- Run a second scenario with a higher rate or shorter term so you can see the downside clearly.
- Compare the result with an affordability or overpayment calculator before applying.
- Use the related guides below to understand trade-offs before you request live quotes.
- Note down the monthly payment and total interest for your two or three strongest scenarios so you have a clear comparison ready when you speak to a broker.
- Check whether making a modest overpayment each month would reduce total interest significantly — run the overpayment calculator next to find out.
Frequently asked
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