Maternity Leave Preparation Checklist

Maternity leave runs on deadlines that fall much earlier than most people expect, and missing one can push back your start date or cost you statutory pay altogether. Alongside the notification requirements there is a set of rights that exist from the moment you tell your employer — paid time off for antenatal appointments, a risk assessment of your role, and protection from detriment. Use this checklist from around week 20 of pregnancy so nothing is left until the last few weeks.

Work backwards from your due date

The key deadline sits fifteen weeks before the week your baby is due. That is when you must have told your employer you are pregnant, when you want your leave to start, and it is also the point used to test whether you qualify for statutory maternity pay. Tell your employer in writing and keep a copy. Separate the two things in your head: leave depends on being an employee, while pay depends on service and earnings — so it is possible to have the full year of leave but not the statutory pay.

  • By week 15 before the due date: notify your employer in writing and hand over the MATB1 certificate when your midwife provides it.
  • Before you go: confirm your leave dates, your return date, how holiday will be handled, and what your employer's own policy adds on top of the statutory minimum.
  • Before returning: if you want to come back earlier or later than the date you gave, you must give at least eight weeks' notice of the change.

If you do not qualify for statutory maternity pay, ask about Maternity Allowance from the Department for Work and Pensions instead — it covers many people who fall outside the employer scheme, including the self-employed.

Holiday keeps accruing throughout the whole leave period. Raise it early so it can be planned around your return rather than discovered as several untaken weeks.

Notification requirements

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Pay and finances

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Workplace arrangements

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Helpful organisations

Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service

Government

Provides free, impartial advice on workplace relations and employment law, and offers early conciliation before tribunal claims.

Visit website0300 123 1100

Department for Work and Pensions

Government

The government department responsible for welfare, pensions, and child maintenance policy in the UK.

Visit website0800 169 0310

HM Revenue & Customs

Government

Responsible for collecting taxes, paying some forms of state support, and administering national insurance.

Visit website0300 200 3300

Frequently asked questions

What if I do not qualify for statutory maternity pay?
Ask your employer for form SMP1, which explains why it was refused and is what you need to claim Maternity Allowance from the Department for Work and Pensions instead. Maternity Allowance covers many people who fall outside the employer scheme, including the self-employed and those who changed jobs during pregnancy, and it is based on recent work and earnings rather than service with one employer. Claim as soon as you can — it can be paid from a set point before the due date.
Can I change my return date after I have gone on leave?
Yes, in either direction, provided you give at least eight weeks' notice of the new date. Without that notice your employer can refuse to have you back until the notice period has run, which can leave you unpaid. Confirm any change in writing, because it affects payroll, pension contributions and cover arrangements. If you decide not to return at all, check whether any enhanced maternity pay your employer paid is repayable under their policy.
Am I entitled to my old job back?
If you take 26 weeks or less, you have the right to return to the same job on the same terms. Beyond that, you are entitled to the same job unless it is not reasonably practicable, in which case it must be a suitable and appropriate alternative on terms no less favourable. Changes should be discussed with you rather than announced. Being treated worse because you took maternity leave is unlawful, and pregnancy and maternity discrimination claims need no minimum service.
Can I ask to return part time?
Yes. A flexible working request is a statutory right and can cover hours, days, start and finish times, or working from home. Employers must deal with requests reasonably and can only refuse for specified business reasons. Make the request in good time before your return date, set out how the arrangement would work in practice, and suggest a trial period if that helps. If it is refused, ask for the reasons in writing and take advice, particularly if the refusal disadvantages you as a new parent.

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Disclaimer

This information is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Always check official sources and seek qualified help where needed.