Petition · past parliament
Increase Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) from 39 weeks to 52 weeks
Closed
55 signatures
What the petition asks
It is important that new parents should not be put off taking their full entitlement to Maternity Leave for 52 weeks because they will not receive payment for the last 13 weeks of their leave. Currently SMP is only payable for the first 39 weeks of Maternity Leave.
The House of Commons Library contains a document entitled "Maternity pay and leave" dated 13 January 2010. It states that in December 2004 the Government announced a goal of extending maternity pay to twelve
months, from what was then 26 weeks (6 months). Although progress has been made and maternity pay is now paid for 39 weeks (9 months), I believe it is an important social issue to get that extra extension to 52 weeks (12 months).
months, from what was then 26 weeks (6 months). Although progress has been made and maternity pay is now paid for 39 weeks (9 months), I believe it is an important social issue to get that extra extension to 52 weeks (12 months).
Timeline
| 20 Mar 2018 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 20 Sep 2018 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
55
Status
Closed
Opened
20 Mar 2018
Closed
20 Sep 2018
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.