Do you know your maternity rights?

Pregnancy: Do you know your new maternity rights?

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Maternity rights for working women have been improved. Find out where you stand. These are minimum legal requirements. Your employer may offer more.

Health in pregnancy grant

From April 2009, all mums-to-be are now entitled to a one-off payment of £190 known as a Health in pregnancy grant.

It's paid to all expecting mothers in the UK from the 25th week of pregnancy and is not means tested.

The grant won't affect other benefits and tax credits and is a payment per pregnancy, not per baby, so you get £190 even if you're expecting a multiple birth.

You can apply for the grant through your midwife. Get more info on the grant

How much maternity leave can I take?

You're eligible for 26 weeks Ordinary Maternity Leave (OML) no matter how many hours you work, how much you're paid or how long you've worked for your employer.

You may be eligible for the full year's Statutory Maternity Leave (SML) to include 26 weeks Additional Maternity Leave (AML). However, to qualify you have to have worked for your employer for the specified time and your baby's due date has to fall after specific dates. Ask your HR department to explain it to you or visit www.directgov.uk for advice as you could miss out on a full year's leave.

To qualify you have to have:

Worked for your employer for at least 26 weeks by the end of the 15th week before your baby's due. (You have to calculate this from the beginning of the week when your baby's due.)
Been earning an average of at least £87 a week.
You qualify for AML whether you work full or part-time.
If you're employed you can choose when you want your SMP to start, this will normally coincide with your Ordinary Maternity Leave. Unless your baby is born sooner, the earliest SMP can start is 11 weeks before the week your baby is due.
If you don't qualify for SML, OML or AML, you may be able to get Maternity Allowance instead, see below.

Read on for 'What about the money?'

By Julia Shaw