Her remarks, which she later withdrew, sparked a fresh discussion about the support systems available to women who are not working. In what way does the UK compare, and who is eligible for maternity pay?
In the UK, statutory maternity pay (SMP) was first implemented in 1987.
An individual who is legally considered an employee (this is explained in our Money blog’s article on employment rights) may be eligible for SMP if
Before their “qualifying week,” which is the fifteenth week before the baby is due, they had been employed by the same company continuously for 26 weeks;
For eight weeks prior to their qualifying week, they must make an average of at least £123 every week.
Of the 52 weeks of leave that eligible employees are offered, up to 39 weeks are paid for by SMP.
Nonetheless, certain companies offer “enhanced” maternity pay packages—for example, 26 weeks of basic pay followed by 13 weeks of statutory pay—to workers who have been employed by them for a predetermined period of time.
