The SMP qualifying week

Edited by Oliver Wakefield-Smith, Founder of Digital Signet. Last reviewed 23 June 2026.

Direct answer

What is the qualifying week?

The qualifying week (QW) is the 15th week before your expected week of childbirth. It is the single most important date in SMP. By the end of the QW you must have 26 weeks of continuous employment, AWE at or above the LEL, and notice to your employer in writing. Find your EWC, count back 15 weeks, and that is your QW.

Finding your qualifying week, step by step

Take your EWC from your MATB1. The week begins on the Sunday before your due date and ends on the following Saturday.
Count back 15 whole weeks. That is your qualifying week.
The end of the QW is your notice deadline. It is also the cut-off for the 26-week continuous-service test.
The 8 weeks before the QW are your AWE relevant period.

Dates the QW unlocks

Notice deadline: end of the QW (28 days notice is the statutory minimum, but in practice you should give the MATB1 by end of QW).
Earliest leave start: 11 weeks before EWC (4 weeks after the QW).
MATB1 earliest: from 20 weeks before EWC, issued by your midwife or GP.
26-week service test: must be met by end of QW.

If your baby comes before the QW

If you give birth before the end of the QW, the QW is treated as having ended on the date of birth. As long as you were still employed at that point and met the AWE test, SMP runs from the day after birth.