MATB1 form for maternity pay

Get the maternity certificate from your doctor or midwife, then give it to the organisation handling your maternity payment.

Official GOV.UK guidance

Check how to claim maternity pay and leave

Read the current notice and proof rules before giving MATB1 to your employer.

Open the maternity pay claim guidance →

Who needs your MATB1?

Employer — for SMP

Give MATB1 or another accepted medical letter to your employer as proof before Statutory Maternity Pay can be paid.

DWP — for Maternity Allowance

Send proof of the due date with form MA1 if you claim Maternity Allowance instead of SMP.

Leave notice — separate step

MATB1 does not replace telling your employer when the baby is due and when you want maternity leave to start.

How to get and use MATB1

1

Wait until the issue window

A doctor or registered midwife can issue MATB1 no more than 20 weeks before the due date.
2

Ask your clinician

Request the certificate from the doctor or midwife providing your maternity care. The certificate must have a unique number and is issued free.
3

Check the details

Make sure the expected week of childbirth and your identifying details are correct before using the certificate.
4

Send it to the right recipient

Give it to your employer for SMP, or include the required proof with an MA1 claim for Maternity Allowance. Follow the recipient's evidence instructions.

MATB1 is not an online application

UKTax.tools does not collect pregnancy or medical information. MATB1 is issued by a healthcare professional; this page only explains the handoff and links to the official claim guidance.

Frequently asked questions

What is a MATB1 form?

MATB1 is the maternity certificate issued by a doctor or registered midwife. It verifies the pregnancy and expected week of childbirth for Statutory Maternity Pay, Maternity Allowance and certain other maternity benefits.

Where do I download a MATB1 form?

You do not download or complete MATB1 yourself. A doctor or registered midwife who provides your clinical care issues the numbered certificate free of charge.

When can I get a MATB1 certificate?

Doctors and midwives issue MATB1 no more than 20 weeks before the due date. Ask at a routine antenatal appointment once you are within that period.

When must I give MATB1 to my employer?

For Statutory Maternity Pay, give your employer MATB1 or another accepted doctor or midwife letter within 21 days of your SMP start date, or as soon as possible if the baby is born early.

Do I need MATB1 for maternity leave?

No. Proof of pregnancy is required for Statutory Maternity Pay, not for statutory maternity leave itself. You still need to give your employer the required notice for leave.

Can MATB1 be used for Maternity Allowance?

Yes. MATB1 can be sent as proof of the baby's due date with an MA1 Maternity Allowance claim. The MA1 instructions explain which original evidence and other documents must accompany the claim.

Official sources

Related Calculators

Maternity Pay Calculator

Statutory Maternity Pay, enhanced employer pay, and the 52-week leave timeline.

SMP1 Form Guide

Employer decision and deadlines when an employee is not entitled to Statutory Maternity Pay.

MA1 Maternity Allowance Form Guide

Prepare the Test Period, evidence and current DWP form for a Maternity Allowance claim.

Learn More

SMP Rate 2026-27 UK: £194.32/week + Eligibility Rules Explained

Statutory Maternity Pay 2026-27 is £194.32/week from the 7th week of leave, with 6 weeks at 90% of average weekly earnings first. Lower Earnings Limit £129/week. Full qualifying conditions, employer reclaim, and what counts as continuous employment.

Maternity Leave Tax & NI 2026-27 UK: PAYE on SMP, Pension, KIT Days

SMP is fully taxable via PAYE and subject to Class 1 NI like normal pay. Tax code shifts mid-leave, the pension auto-enrolment asymmetry, KIT days at full salary, and the year-end refund pattern when SMP straddles the tax year boundary.