Police Maternity Pay Explained: What You'll Actually Receive

Better than you might expect

If you are a police officer thinking about starting a family, the good news is that police maternity pay is considerably better than the statutory minimum. Better than most private sector jobs, honestly, and basically better than most officers expect before they actually look into it.

Recently someone on our newsletter asked what the figures look like week by week. That is what this article covers.

How police maternity pay works

Your entitlement comes in stages. The exact arrangement varies slightly by force (some are more generous), but the standard Home Office guidance provides:

• Weeks 1 to 18: Full pay. During this period your force pays Occupational Maternity Pay (OMP), which tops up Statutory Maternity Pay to give you your normal salary.
• Weeks 19 to 39: Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) only. That is currently around £187/week at the flat rate (the amount increases each April, so check the current figure with your payroll team).
• Weeks 40 to 52: Unpaid. You can still take this time, but you receive nothing from either SMP or OMP.

So you get 18 weeks on full pay, then another 21 weeks on the SMP flat rate, then unpaid if you choose to take the full year. That is significantly better than the statutory minimum, which is just 6 weeks at 90% of earnings and then the SMP flat rate from week 7 onwards with no employer top-up at all.

The return to work condition

There is a catch worth knowing about upfront. The OMP (the top-up that brings your pay to full salary) usually comes with a return to work condition attached. Generally you need to return to your force for at least 3 months after your maternity leave ends, or you may be asked to repay some or all of the OMP you received.

Fair enough as conditions go. The force is paying you above what they are legally required to, so there is a reasonable expectation you will come back. SMP is yours to keep regardless of whether you return.

What happens to your pension during maternity leave?

Pension accrual during maternity leave is actually one of the better aspects of the police scheme. During the OMP period (weeks 1 to 18, when you are on full pay), pension contributions come out as normal and you accrue pension based on your full salary.

During the SMP-only period, your pension contributions are based on the SMP amount you are receiving rather than your normal salary. Pension accrual during additional maternity leave is a bit more complex and depends on specific scheme rules, so it is worth asking your force pension team directly about how that period is handled.

During any unpaid period, you do not accrue pension unless you make voluntary contributions to cover the gap.

Does your pay point advance during maternity leave?

Yes. Time on maternity leave counts as qualifying service for pay point progression. If your progression date falls while you are on leave, you still move up the scale. You will not come back on a lower pay point than the one you left on.

Shared parental leave

If your partner also qualifies, you can share up to 50 weeks of leave between you (and up to 37 weeks of the paid element, split between both parents). The rules around eligibility are a bit involved (they depend on both partners meeting certain qualifying conditions related to employment and earnings), but it is worth looking into if you want more flexibility about who takes the leave and when.

Before you go

Let your line manager and force HR know as early as you are comfortable. You will need to give formal notice by week 25 of pregnancy. Get written confirmation of the maternity pay arrangement from payroll before you go, including the return to work condition and what the OMP repayment clause looks like if you end up not returning.

The pay calculator can show you exactly what your monthly take-home looks like on your current salary, which is helpful for planning the first 18 weeks. The pay scales page also shows estimated net figures for every rank, so you can see what you are starting from before leave begins. For the SMP period, the flat rate is fixed regardless of rank or pay point.

Edge cases and things HR doesn't always mention

If you're promoted while on maternity leave: You don't lose the promotion. Time on maternity leave counts as qualifying service, and if a promotion you applied for before leave is confirmed while you're away, you're entitled to it. Pay should update from the effective date of promotion, not the date you return.

If your return date falls during a pay award cycle: Officers returning during a pay award cycle receive the new pay scale from the effective date of the award, not the date of return. You don't miss out on September pay increases just because you were on leave.

Student loan repayments during maternity: During the SMP-only period (weeks 19–39), repayments are calculated on the SMP amount received — typically below Plan 2's £27,295 threshold, so repayments effectively pause. During weeks 1–18 (full pay), repayments continue as normal.

Probationary officers: Officers still in their probationary period when maternity leave begins retain their employment status. Probation shouldn't be extended purely because of time taken as maternity leave — that would constitute maternity discrimination under the Equality Act 2010.

Annual leave accrual: You continue to accrue annual leave throughout maternity leave, including any unpaid weeks. Most forces allow the outstanding leave to be taken immediately before or after maternity leave to extend the paid period. Agree this in writing with your line manager before you go.

Frequently asked questions

How much OMP do I have to repay if I don't return?

The Occupational Maternity Pay top-up (the element bringing weeks 1–18 to full salary) is subject to a return-to-work condition. You keep SMP regardless — that's a statutory entitlement that forces cannot claw back. Get the exact repayment terms in writing from payroll before your leave starts; the precise amount and trigger conditions vary by force.

Does maternity leave affect my PPS 2015 pension accrual?

During the OMP period (full pay, weeks 1–18), pension accrues at your normal full-salary rate. During SMP-only (weeks 19–39), accrual is based on the lower SMP amount. During any unpaid period, no pension accrues. A single 12-month leave period typically has a modest long-term pension impact — your force pension team can project the exact effect on your personal circumstances.

Can I return part-time after maternity leave?

You have the right to request flexible working, including reduced hours, on return. Forces must consider such requests seriously but aren't obligated to agree. If you go part-time, your pension contribution tier is based on your pro-rated actual pay — which can drop you into a lower contribution band, reducing deductions but also slightly reducing your annual pension accrual.

What happens to my pay point progression while on maternity leave?

Pay point progression continues — maternity leave counts as qualifying service. If your progression date falls while you're on leave, you still move up the scale. You won't return on a lower pay point than when you left.

Does my force have to match the Home Office maternity provisions?

The Home Office provisions are the minimum standard for police officers in England and Wales. Some forces have enhanced maternity policies that go further — longer full-pay periods, higher top-up rates during SMP, or extended return-to-work windows before OMP repayment is triggered. Always check your specific force policy, not just the national guidance.

Police maternity pay arrangements follow Home Office guidance. Exact terms, including any enhanced provisions, vary by force. This is not legal or HR advice. Check the specifics with your force HR team before making plans.