Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook 2019/20Part 5: Other benefitsChapter 38: Statutory maternity, adoption, paternity and shared parental pay Key facts
Back to previous
Newer version available

There is a newer version of this publication available:
Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook 2021/22

Key facts
    •Statutory maternity pay (SMP), statutory adoption pay (SAP), statutory paternity pay (SPP) and statutory shared parental pay (SSPP) are payments made to certain employees by their employers for the birth or adoption of a child.
    •SMP, SAP, SPP and SSPP are not means tested, although they have employment and earnings conditions.
    •You do not have to have paid national insurance contributions to qualify.
    •You do not need to intend to return to work to qualify for SMP, SAP, SPP or SSPP, and you do not have to repay any of these payments if you do not return.
    •You may be entitled to more maternity, adoption, paternity or shared parental pay under your employment contract.
    •If you disagree with your employer’s decision on your entitlement, or if your employer has failed to make a decision, you can challenge this (see Chapter 59).
You need a subscription to see the rest of this publication. If you’re a subscriber, please log in to your account
Not yet a subscriber?

Find out more about our subscriptions and sign up

Not sure what you can access for free?

Some of our content is free to access and other areas of the site are for subscribers only.

Find out more: What welfare rights content can I access for free?

Purchase online access to the section for £0.00