When is this mainly a maternity route question?

Usually when the user is checking maternity leave, maternity pay, timing rules or how a standard maternity route works.

When is shared parental leave the better route to check?

Usually when the family is planning to share leave or pay rather than using only the standard maternity or paternity route.

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Family-rights routing page

Maternity vs paternity vs shared parental leave

Use this page when you need to decide which family-rights route fits before you open a calculator or guide.

Use the quick route below if you are choosing between maternity, paternity and shared parental leave and do not want to guess.

What this page covers

High-level differences between maternity, paternity and shared parental routes, plus the best next page to open.

What this page does not cover

Every adoption or surrogacy variation, or a detailed shared-parental-pay calculator.

Maternity first

Use maternity when the question is longer leave, the 39-week pay structure, and the qualifying week.

Paternity first

Use paternity when the question is short leave and the 1 or 2 week statutory-pay route.

Shared parental first

Use shared parental when the real question is how parents want to split leave and pay after the birth or placement.

Which route sounds most like your situation?

Start with maternity if the main question is pregnancy-related leave, the 39-week pay structure or Maternity Allowance fallback. Start with paternity if the question is 1 or 2 weeks of leave, notice timing or the weekly paternity rate. Start with shared parental leave if you are planning how both parents will split time away from work after birth or placement.

What if the statutory pay page says no?

Do not assume that means no support is available. The next useful route may be Maternity Allowance, a paternity eligibility timing check, or Shared Parental Leave planning instead.

Open next-step page

Maternity

Best when the main question is pregnancy-related leave, SMP structure, the qualifying week or what to do if SMP may not be available.

Go to Statutory Maternity Pay Calculator

Read the maternity guide

Paternity

Best when the immediate question is 1 or 2 weeks of paternity leave, notice timing or the weekly paternity-pay rate.

Go to Statutory Paternity Pay Calculator

Read the paternity guide

Shared parental

Best when parents want to share leave and pay in the first year after birth or placement and need the official planner next.

Open official shared parental overview