Statutory Maternity/Paternity Pay (SMP / SPP)

This is a type of payment made to eligible employees when they have taken leave to have a child. Your employer should sit down with you after you get your Maternity Certificate (MatB 1) form from your doctor to assess your eligibility for SMP Pay. Generally to qualify an employee must have continuously been employed by the same employer for at least 26 weeks by the end of the 15^th week before the expected week of the childbirth. During that period, you should also be getting paid at least £123 a week. SMP is paid for up to 39 weeks.