Police Scotland
Maternity Pay 2026
From 1 April 2026 Police Scotland officers get up to 26 weeks of full maternity pay instead of 18. Here are the three ways it can be paid, what each is worth week by week and in total at your pay point, who qualifies and what to do from the day you tell the service.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 22 and 23 October 2026 · Scotland unless stated
For babies due on or after 1 April 2026: 26 weeks of full pay, or 21 weeks of full pay then 10 weeks of half pay plus half SMP, or 6 weeks of full pay with the next 20 weeks' value spread over 33 weeks. You need 63 weeks' continuous police service at the start of the expected week of birth. SMP is offset against it, not paid on top. Leave can last up to 15 months.
What changed on 1 April 2026
The 2025/26 and 2026/27 pay agreement (PNBS Circular 2025/09) extended enhanced maternity and adoption pay from 18 to 26 weeks from 1 April 2026, with the option to take weeks 21 to 31 at half pay plus half the value of Statutory Maternity Pay. The handbook now applies the new rules to officers whose babies are expected on or after 1 April 2026.
Eight more weeks of full pay for a constable on point 5 is worth £6,911 before deductions. The new rules sit alongside the existing 15 months of maternity leave, so the leave itself has not got longer: more of it is now paid.
The handbook section we read states the options for babies expected on or after 1 April 2026 only. It does not set out the earlier rules in detail. If your baby was due before that date, ask People Direct which rules applied to you.
The three occupational maternity pay options
| Option | How it is paid | Full pay value |
|---|---|---|
| A | 26 weeks at full pay for the first 26 weeks of maternity leave | 26 weeks |
| B | 21 weeks at full pay, then 10 weeks at half pay plus the equivalent of half the rate of SMP | 21 weeks full plus 10 half weeks (plus half SMP) |
| C | 6 weeks at full pay, then the value of the next 20 weeks' full pay spread across the following 33 weeks | 26 weeks, spread over 39 |
The options are labelled A, B and C on this page for ease; the handbook lists them without letters. Option C matches the length of the statutory pay period (33 weeks after the first 6), so income lasts longer at a lower weekly rate.
- Option A suits most people: the most money soonest, then SMP on its own to week 39.
- Option B trades the last 5 weeks of full pay for 10 weeks of half pay plus half SMP, spreading income further.
- Option C gives a steady income for 39 weeks, at about 61% of normal pay after week 6.
Week by week: what each option pays
All amounts are before tax, NI and pension. SMP is 90% of average weekly earnings for 6 weeks, then £194.32 a week or 90% if lower (GOV.UK). Where occupational pay and SMP overlap, the occupational pay is offset by the SMP, so in those weeks you receive the occupational level in total, not both.
| Weeks of leave | Option A | Option B | Option C | No OMP (SMP only) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1 to 6 | Full pay | Full pay | Full pay | 90% of average weekly earnings |
| Weeks 7 to 21 | Full pay | Full pay | 20/33 of full pay | £194.32 or 90% if lower |
| Weeks 22 to 26 | Full pay | Half pay plus half SMP | 20/33 of full pay | £194.32 or 90% if lower |
| Weeks 27 to 31 | SMP only | Half pay plus half SMP | 20/33 of full pay | £194.32 or 90% if lower |
| Weeks 32 to 39 | SMP only | SMP only | 20/33 of full pay | £194.32 or 90% if lower |
| Week 40 to the end of leave (up to 15 months) | Unpaid | Unpaid | Unpaid | Unpaid |
The last column applies if you have not reached 63 weeks' police service but do qualify for SMP. If you qualify for neither, you may be entitled to Maternity Allowance instead.
What 26 weeks of full pay is worth
Illustrations using weekly pay of annual / 52 1/6 (handbook 2.11) at 1 April 2026 pay, before tax, NI and pension. The SMP offset changes how the full pay is made up, not how much full pay you get.
| Officer | Annual pay | A week | 26 weeks | Old 18 weeks | Gain from the change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constable, on commencing service | £34,001 | £651.78 | £16,946 | £11,732 | £5,214 |
| Constable, point 1 | £36,995 | £709.17 | £18,438 | £12,765 | £5,673 |
| Constable, point 2 | £39,988 | £766.54 | £19,930 | £13,798 | £6,132 |
| Constable, point 5 | £45,064 | £863.85 | £22,460 | £15,549 | £6,911 |
| Constable, point 8 | £48,940 | £938.15 | £24,392 | £16,887 | £7,505 |
| Constable, point 11 | £54,597 | £1,046.59 | £27,211 | £18,839 | £8,373 |
| Sergeant, point 1 | £56,455 | £1,082.20 | £28,137 | £19,480 | £8,658 |
| Sergeant, point 4 | £61,036 | £1,170.02 | £30,420 | £21,060 | £9,360 |
| Inspector, point 1 | £67,491 | £1,293.76 | £33,638 | £23,288 | £10,350 |
| Chief inspector, point 1 | £76,087 | £1,458.54 | £37,922 | £26,254 | £11,668 |
Total maternity pay over 39 weeks, by option
Totals for weeks 1 to 39 (the statutory pay period), before deductions, assuming you qualify for both OMP and SMP and that your average weekly earnings for SMP equal your weekly basic pay. The last column is for an officer without 63 weeks' service who qualifies for SMP only.
| Officer | Option A | Option B | Option C | SMP only |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constable, on commencing service | £19,472 | £19,472 | £16,946 | £9,932 |
| Constable, point 1 | £20,965 | £20,965 | £18,438 | £10,242 |
| Constable, point 2 | £22,456 | £22,456 | £19,930 | £10,552 |
| Constable, point 5 | £24,986 | £24,986 | £22,460 | £11,077 |
| Constable, point 8 | £26,918 | £26,918 | £24,392 | £11,479 |
| Constable, point 11 | £29,737 | £29,737 | £27,211 | £12,064 |
| Sergeant, point 1 | £30,663 | £30,663 | £28,137 | £12,256 |
| Sergeant, point 4 | £32,947 | £32,947 | £30,420 | £12,731 |
| Inspector, point 1 | £36,164 | £36,164 | £33,638 | £13,399 |
| Chief inspector, point 1 | £40,448 | £40,448 | £37,922 | £14,289 |
Options A and B pay the same total. B's 10 weeks of half pay plus half SMP equal 5 weeks of full pay plus 5 weeks of SMP. After occupational pay ends, SMP is paid on its own until week 39 under both. Under option C the spread payments run to week 39, so SMP is offset inside them for the whole period and is never paid on its own: the total is 26 weeks of full pay.
This depends on how the offset is applied to the spread payments, which the handbook section does not spell out. Ask People Direct to confirm your total before you choose option C.
Worked example: constable on point 5
A constable on point 5 earns £45,064 a year, which is £863.85 a week under the handbook formula. She has more than 63 weeks' service and qualifies for SMP. Her baby is due in 2027.
| Option A | Option B | Option C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1 to 6 | £863.85 a week | £863.85 a week | £863.85 a week |
| Weeks 7 to 21 | £863.85 a week | £863.85 a week | £523.54 a week |
| Weeks 22 to 26 | £863.85 a week | £529.08 a week | £523.54 a week |
| Weeks 27 to 31 | £194.32 a week (SMP) | £529.08 a week | £523.54 a week |
| Weeks 32 to 39 | £194.32 a week (SMP) | £194.32 a week (SMP) | £523.54 a week |
| Total, weeks 1 to 39 | £24,986 | £24,986 | £22,460 |
Options A and B both total £24,986. Option C totals £22,460 on our reading, £2,526 less, but pays £523.54 a week right through to week 39 instead of dropping to £194.32 SMP. If the steady income matters more than the total, C may still suit her. If she plans to return before week 39, the timing of her return changes the comparison: under C, part of the 26 weeks' value is still to be paid after week 26.
Second worked example: sergeant on point 4
A sergeant on the top point earns £61,036, or £1,170.02 a week. Her normal take-home, after Scottish tax, NI and the 13.7% pension, is about £754.08 a week.
| Option A | Option B | Option C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1 to 6 | £1,170.02 | £1,170.02 | £1,170.02 |
| Weeks 7 to 21 | £1,170.02 | £1,170.02 | £709.10 |
| Weeks 22 to 26 | £1,170.02 | £682.17 | £709.10 |
| Weeks 27 to 31 | £194.32 | £682.17 | £709.10 |
| Weeks 32 to 39 | £194.32 | £194.32 | £709.10 |
| Total, weeks 1 to 39 | £32,947 | £32,947 | £30,420 |
The higher your pay, the bigger the drop when option A falls to SMP at week 27: from £1,170.02 to £194.32 a week for this sergeant. That cliff is the main reason to look at B or C. The weekly amounts are amounts per week, before deductions.
Choosing between A, B and C
| If you... | Look at | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Want the most money as early as possible | Option A | Full pay for 26 weeks; the highest (or joint highest) total received at every point to week 39 |
| Plan to stay off for most of the 39 weeks and want a softer drop at week 22 | Option B | Same 39-week total as A, with income held up through week 31 |
| Need a steady income for 39 weeks to cover fixed bills | Option C | About 61% of full pay every week from week 7 to week 39, with no drop to SMP |
| Expect to return before week 26 | Option A | Under B or C some of the value falls after week 26; what happens to it on an early return is not stated in the handbook |
| Have less than 63 weeks' service | SMP or Maternity Allowance | Occupational pay needs 63 weeks |
These are pointers, not advice. The handbook does not say whether a choice can be changed later, so confirm the rules and your totals in writing before you start leave.
How much you have received by each week
Totals hide timing. This is what the constable on point 5 in the worked example has received by the end of each week, before deductions. It shows when each option front-loads or holds back money.
| Point in leave | Option A | Option B | Option C |
|---|---|---|---|
| By the end of week 6 | £5,183 | £5,183 | £5,183 |
| By the end of week 13 | £11,230 | £11,230 | £8,848 |
| By the end of week 21 | £18,141 | £18,141 | £13,036 |
| By the end of week 26 | £22,460 | £20,786 | £15,654 |
| By the end of week 31 | £23,432 | £23,432 | £18,272 |
| By the end of week 39 | £24,986 | £24,986 | £22,460 |
Option A is ahead until about week 6, when option C catches up. Option B matches A until week 21, falls behind in the half pay weeks and draws level again by week 39, because A drops to SMP alone from week 27. If you expect to return to duty early, check with People Direct what happens to any spread payments not yet made when you return.
Option C: the spread option in detail
Under option C you get 6 weeks of full pay, then 20 weeks of full pay spread over 33 weeks: 61% of your weekly pay for weeks 7 to 39. Compared with option B's half pay weeks and with SMP on its own:
| Officer | Full pay a week | Option C a week (20/33) | Option B half pay plus half SMP | SMP only |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constable, on commencing service | £651.78 | £395.02 | £423.05 | £194.32 |
| Constable, point 1 | £709.17 | £429.80 | £451.74 | £194.32 |
| Constable, point 2 | £766.54 | £464.57 | £480.43 | £194.32 |
| Constable, point 5 | £863.85 | £523.54 | £529.08 | £194.32 |
| Constable, point 8 | £938.15 | £568.57 | £566.23 | £194.32 |
| Constable, point 11 | £1,046.59 | £634.30 | £620.45 | £194.32 |
| Sergeant, point 1 | £1,082.20 | £655.88 | £638.26 | £194.32 |
| Sergeant, point 4 | £1,170.02 | £709.10 | £682.17 | £194.32 |
| Inspector, point 1 | £1,293.76 | £784.10 | £744.04 | £194.32 |
| Chief inspector, point 1 | £1,458.54 | £883.96 | £826.43 | £194.32 |
For every officer in the table the spread payment is above the SMP rate, so the SMP offset never takes the weekly amount below the spread level. Ask People Direct to confirm your own figures and the effect of any return before week 39.
Monthly amounts for budgeting
Most officers budget by the month. These convert the weekly levels to monthly equivalents (weekly x 52 1/6 / 12), before tax, NI and pension.
| Officer | Full pay a month | Option C a month | Option B half pay plus half SMP a month | SMP only a month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constable, on commencing service | £2,833 | £1,717 | £1,839 | £845 |
| Constable, point 1 | £3,083 | £1,868 | £1,964 | £845 |
| Constable, point 2 | £3,332 | £2,020 | £2,089 | £845 |
| Constable, point 5 | £3,755 | £2,276 | £2,300 | £845 |
| Constable, point 8 | £4,078 | £2,472 | £2,462 | £845 |
| Constable, point 11 | £4,550 | £2,757 | £2,697 | £845 |
| Sergeant, point 1 | £4,705 | £2,851 | £2,775 | £845 |
| Sergeant, point 4 | £5,086 | £3,083 | £2,966 | £845 |
| Inspector, point 1 | £5,624 | £3,409 | £3,235 | £845 |
| Chief inspector, point 1 | £6,341 | £3,843 | £3,593 | £845 |
Take-home during the full pay weeks
Full pay weeks are paid like normal salary. If tax, NI and the 13.7% pension contribution run as normal, a full pay week looks like your normal take-home. These figures use Scottish income tax 2026/27 and the flat 13.7% Scottish pension contribution.
| Officer | Gross a week | Take-home a week | Take-home a month | Take-home over 26 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constable, on commencing service | £651.78 | £466.07 | £2,026 | £12,118 |
| Constable, point 1 | £709.17 | £500.65 | £2,176 | £13,017 |
| Constable, point 2 | £766.54 | £535.17 | £2,327 | £13,914 |
| Constable, point 5 | £863.85 | £593.73 | £2,581 | £15,437 |
| Constable, point 8 | £938.15 | £638.44 | £2,775 | £16,599 |
| Constable, point 11 | £1,046.59 | £694.76 | £3,020 | £18,064 |
| Sergeant, point 1 | £1,082.20 | £711.88 | £3,095 | £18,509 |
| Sergeant, point 4 | £1,170.02 | £754.08 | £3,278 | £19,606 |
| Inspector, point 1 | £1,293.76 | £813.54 | £3,537 | £21,152 |
| Chief inspector, point 1 | £1,458.54 | £892.72 | £3,881 | £23,211 |
Half pay, spread and SMP weeks are taxed through PAYE like other pay, but how much tax you pay depends on your whole tax year's income, so we have not given a take-home figure for them. Your take-home will usually be a larger share of gross in lower-paid weeks. Use the Police Scotland salary calculator to test a lower annual figure. See also Scottish income tax for officers.
Who qualifies
| Entitlement | Who qualifies |
|---|---|
| Maternity leave (up to 15 months) | All pregnant officers who notify the chief constable as soon as reasonably practicable, stating the expected date of birth and the date they intend to start leave (no later than the expected date of birth) |
| Occupational maternity pay | At the beginning of the week of the expected date of birth, at least 63 weeks' continuous service in the Police Service of Scotland or any other police force; pregnant or has given birth |
| Statutory Maternity Pay | Worked for Police Scotland continuously for at least 26 weeks into the qualifying week (the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth) |
| Maternity Allowance | Officers who do not qualify for SMP may be entitled to it (from the benefits system) |
63 weeks is a little over 14 months. Because service "in any other police force" counts, a transferee from England, Wales or Northern Ireland can bring that service with them for this test. See the transfers guide.
The handbook says that if a baby dies or is stillborn more than 15 weeks before the expected date of birth, maternity pay is not due and that sympathetic consideration should be given, with special leave or sick leave granted as appropriate.
If you have less than 63 weeks' service
You still get maternity leave. You do not get occupational maternity pay, but you may get SMP if you have 26 weeks' continuous Police Scotland service into the qualifying week. For a constable on commencing pay (£34,001, £651.78 a week) SMP alone over 39 weeks is about £9,932, against £19,472 under option A if she had the 63 weeks.
The test is taken at the beginning of the week of the expected date of birth, not when you tell the service. A recruit who will pass 63 weeks before that week qualifies even if she was below it when she announced the pregnancy. Count back from the expected date of birth to your start date and check with People Direct if it is close.
Recently joined? The two service tests
Count the weeks from your start date to the start of the expected week of childbirth. OMP needs 63 weeks of continuous police service by then. SMP needs 26 weeks of Police Scotland service into the qualifying week, which is the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth, so roughly 41 weeks before the expected week. These rows are an illustration; the exact week counting is done by payroll.
| Started | OMP (63 weeks) | SMP (26 weeks into the qualifying week) | What you can get |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 weeks before | No | No | Maternity Allowance may apply |
| 35 weeks before | No | No | Maternity Allowance may apply |
| 41 weeks before | No | Yes | SMP only |
| 50 weeks before | No | Yes | SMP only |
| 62 weeks before | No | Yes | SMP only |
| 63 weeks before | Yes | Yes | Option A, B or C |
| 80 weeks before | Yes | Yes | Option A, B or C |
Service in another police force counts for the OMP test but the SMP test is about continuous work for Police Scotland, as the handbook words it. A transferee with long service elsewhere but only a few weeks in Scotland could therefore pass the OMP test and need payroll to confirm the SMP position.
Key dates, counted from your due date
| When | What happens | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| 6 months before the expected date of birth | Earliest a block of maternity leave can begin | Handbook 3.7 |
| At least 15 weeks before the expected date of birth | Partner gives notice of maternity support leave | Handbook 3.9 |
| The 15th week before the expected week of childbirth | SMP qualifying week: you need 26 weeks' continuous Police Scotland service into it | Handbook 3.7 |
| 4 weeks before the expected week of childbirth | Pregnancy-related absence from here triggers SMP instead of sick pay | Handbook 3.7 |
| Start of the week of the expected date of birth | OMP test: 63 weeks' continuous police service | Handbook 3.7 |
| The expected date of birth | Latest date to start maternity leave | Handbook 3.7 |
| Week 39 of leave | SMP ends; option C payments end | GOV.UK, handbook 3.7 |
| 52 weeks after the birth | Partner's maternity support leave must be finished | Handbook 3.9 |
| 12 months after the expected date of birth | Latest end of any block of maternity leave | Handbook 3.7 |
| 21 days before your return | Notice of return to duty | Handbook 3.7 |
| 3 months after your return | KIT day TOIL must be taken | Handbook 3.11 |
| 15 months after the end of the leave year | Carried over statutory annual leave must be taken | Handbook 3.2.2 |
Maternity leave: up to 15 months
- Up to 15 months, in one or more blocks.
- Blocks begin no earlier than 6 months before the expected date of birth and end no later than 12 months after it.
- SMP stops at the end of the first block and does not restart for later blocks in the maternity period.
- You can change your maternity start date (not later than the expected date of birth) and the dates of your blocks, as long as you give at least 21 days' notice of your return.
- For unpaid leave and pension, the handbook points to section 3.15.
Splitting leave into blocks can help with childcare or a phased return, but because SMP ends with the first block, a short first block can cost SMP. Plan the first block to cover the paid weeks you want.
Worked example: an officer on option A takes a first block of 39 weeks, so she receives 26 weeks of full pay and then SMP to week 39. She returns to duty, then takes a second block of unpaid maternity leave later in the 12 months after the expected date of birth, within the 15-month limit. Had she ended the first block at week 30, SMP for weeks 31 to 39 would have been lost, because it does not restart in a later block.
How Statutory Maternity Pay fits in
You are also eligible for SMP if you have worked for Police Scotland continuously for at least 26 weeks into the qualifying week, the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth. If not, you may be entitled to Maternity Allowance. Where paid maternity leave and SMP overlap, occupational pay is offset by the SMP.
- SMP rate: 90% of average weekly earnings for 6 weeks, then £194.32 a week or 90% if lower, for 33 weeks (GOV.UK).
- Pregnancy-related absence in the 4 weeks before the expected week of childbirth triggers SMP: you are recorded as on sick leave but paid SMP rather than sick pay.
- SMP stops at the end of your first block of leave.
Keeping in touch (KIT) days
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| How many | Up to 10 KIT days during maternity or adoption leave; up to 20 SPLIT days during shared parental leave |
| Agreement | Optional: both you and the service must agree |
| Pay or time off | You choose payment or time off in lieu for each day |
| Paid at | The normal rate of maternity leave for the hours worked |
| During the OMP period | OMP is not paid for that day and the OMP period is extended by one day |
| On statutory pay | You keep the statutory pay and are also paid the normal rate for the hours worked |
| TOIL deadline | Time off must be taken within three months of your return |
KIT days are useful for training, a briefing or easing back before you return. Agree the pay or TOIL choice before the day.
Annual leave during maternity leave
Statutory annual leave (20 days, pro rata for part-time officers) that you cannot take because of maternity leave is brought forward into the next leave year without a request and must be taken within 15 months of the end of the leave year in which it built up (handbook 3.2.2). Statutory leave must be used before occupational leave.
Leave above the statutory 20 days is occupational leave; carrying it forward is at the chief constable's discretion and normally capped at five days. You can use carried over leave to extend your time off or to ease your return: agree the dates before you go back. See the annual leave guide for the full rules and the 28, 34, 36 and 39 day entitlements.
Pension during maternity leave
The maternity section points to handbook section 3.15 for pension during unpaid leave. Section 3.15 says officers are entitled to a maximum of two weeks of unpaid leave a year as reckonable for pension, without extra contributions.
The handbook pages we read do not say how weeks of paid maternity leave, or unpaid maternity leave beyond those two weeks, count in the Police Pension Scheme (Scotland) 2015, or whether contributions can be paid to cover unpaid weeks. Ask SPPA or People Direct before your unpaid weeks start. For what a year of service builds (pensionable pay divided by 56.1), see Police Scotland pension explained and the Police Scotland pension calculator.
What to do, step by step
- Tell the service as soon as reasonably practicable. Give the expected date of birth and the date you intend to start maternity leave (no later than the expected date of birth).
- Use paid antenatal time. Appointments recommended by your GP, midwife or health visitor are paid time off. After the first one you may be asked for an appointment card.
- Check your service. Count your continuous police service to the beginning of the expected week of birth. 63 weeks for OMP; 26 weeks into the qualifying week for SMP.
- Choose your option. Compare A, B and C using the tables above at your pay point. Ask People Direct to confirm totals, especially for option C.
- Plan your blocks. Up to 15 months, starting no earlier than 6 months before the due date and ending no later than 12 months after. SMP ends with the first block.
- Plan your annual leave. Statutory leave you cannot take carries over automatically; get the carried over balance confirmed in writing.
- Ask about pension. Find out how any unpaid weeks will count before they start.
- Agree any KIT days. Up to 10, paid or TOIL, by agreement.
- Give 21 days' notice of your return. Changing the date needs the same notice.
- Consider flexible working. Police Scotland offers part-time working and full-time compressed hours. Check your part-time pay in the salary calculator.
Changing dates and returning to duty
- You can change your maternity start date (not later than the expected date of birth) and the dates of your blocks.
- Give at least 21 days' notice of your intention to return to duty; a changed date needs the same notice.
- KIT TOIL must be taken within three months of your return.
- Carried over statutory leave must be taken within 15 months of the end of the leave year in which it built up.
- Flexible working, including part-time and full-time compressed hours, is available (Police Scotland).
Going part-time on return changes your pay and your annual leave pro rata. See the annual leave guide for part-time leave in hours.
Partners, adoption and other family leave
| Leave | Length | Pay | Key condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maternity support leave (3.9) | One or two weeks, in one or two blocks, finished within 52 weeks of the birth | First week full pay; a second week at the statutory paternity pay rate | Two weeks with 26 weeks' continuous service into the 15th week before the due date; notice at least 15 weeks before the due date |
| Adoption leave (3.8) | 52 weeks for the main adopter | For placements on or after 1 April 2026: the same three options as maternity, with half Statutory Adoption Pay in option B | 1 year's continuous service by the week an approved match is made; leave can start up to 14 days before placement |
| Antenatal appointments, partners (3.6) | Up to two sessions | Unpaid | Expectant fathers and partners |
| Shared parental leave (3.12) | In the first year | See the handbook | Police Scotland |
| Parental leave (3.13) | 18 weeks per child under 18 | Unpaid | Police Scotland |
| Career break (3.14) | Up to five years | Unpaid | Police Scotland |
What the first week of maternity support leave is worth to a partner who is an officer: one week of full pay, which is the same as a normal week. The second week, where due, is paid at the statutory paternity pay rate, which we have not checked for this page.
| Officer | Gross for the week | Normal take-home for the week |
|---|---|---|
| Constable, on commencing service | £651.78 | £466.07 |
| Constable, point 1 | £709.17 | £500.65 |
| Constable, point 2 | £766.54 | £535.17 |
| Constable, point 5 | £863.85 | £593.73 |
| Constable, point 8 | £938.15 | £638.44 |
| Constable, point 11 | £1,046.59 | £694.76 |
| Sergeant, point 1 | £1,082.20 | £711.88 |
| Sergeant, point 4 | £1,170.02 | £754.08 |
| Inspector, point 1 | £1,293.76 | £813.54 |
| Chief inspector, point 1 | £1,458.54 | £892.72 |
Adoption pay mirrors the maternity options for placements on or after 1 April 2026, so the full pay values in the tables above apply to a main adopter on the same pay point. The statutory amount in option B is half Statutory Adoption Pay rather than half SMP.
Neonatal care leave and pay (3.19), adoption support leave (3.10) and parental bereavement leave (3.17) each have their own handbook sections, which we have not summarised here.
Compared with England and Wales
England and Wales police maternity pay is set by Police Regulations 2003 Annex L, as amended by Home Office Circular 003/2020 from 4 January 2021. Our England and Wales figures come from the same model used by our police maternity pay calculator.
| Rule | Police Scotland | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Service needed for occupational pay | 63 weeks' continuous police service at the start of the week of the expected birth | 63 weeks' continuous service in any police force at the start of the week the baby is due |
| Full pay | 26 weeks (babies due on or after 1 April 2026; 18 weeks before) | 26 weeks (since 4 January 2021) |
| Half pay option | 21 weeks full, then 10 weeks half pay plus half SMP | Half pay in weeks 22 to 31 in place of full pay in weeks 22 to 26, plus half SMP |
| Spread option | Yes: 6 weeks full, then 20 weeks' value over 33 weeks | Not in the rules we model |
| SMP | Offset against occupational pay | Full pay reduced by SMP for the week |
| Set by | PNBS, approved by Scottish Ministers | Home Office determination (Annex L) |
Same rules, same weekly pay: this table runs the England and Wales model on each Scottish pay point so you can see the rules are now equivalent on the full pay route. It is not a comparison of what officers earn in each country, because the pay scales differ.
| Scottish pay point | Scotland option A | Scotland option C | England and Wales full pay route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Constable, on commencing service | £19,472 | £16,946 | £19,472 |
| Constable, point 1 | £20,965 | £18,438 | £20,965 |
| Constable, point 2 | £22,456 | £19,930 | £22,456 |
| Constable, point 5 | £24,986 | £22,460 | £24,986 |
| Constable, point 8 | £26,918 | £24,392 | £26,918 |
| Constable, point 11 | £29,737 | £27,211 | £29,737 |
| Sergeant, point 1 | £30,663 | £28,137 | £30,663 |
| Sergeant, point 4 | £32,947 | £30,420 | £32,947 |
| Inspector, point 1 | £36,164 | £33,638 | £36,164 |
| Chief inspector, point 1 | £40,448 | £37,922 | £40,448 |
Using the England and Wales model on the same weekly pay as our worked example (£863.85), the full pay route totals £24,986 over 39 weeks and the half pay route £24,986, the same as Scottish options A (£24,986) and B (£24,986). Since April 2026 the occupational rules are close: Scotland adds the spread option. The bigger difference is the pay scale itself. Compare scales in Police Scotland vs England pay and read the England and Wales maternity pay guide.
Calculators for Police Scotland officers
Every figure on this page uses the same PNBS pay points and Scottish tax rules as these free tools.
Our pregnancy timeline planner and maternity pay calculator follow England and Wales rules, so use them for dates and SMP only, not for Scottish occupational pay.
How we worked out the numbers
- Pay: 1 April 2026 pay points from PNBS Circular 2026/01, the same data our Police Scotland calculators use.
- Weekly pay: annual pay divided by 52 1/6, the handbook 2.11 formula for a week's pay.
- SMP: 90% of average weekly earnings for 6 weeks, then £194.32 or 90% if lower (GOV.UK, checked 23 October 2026). We assume average weekly earnings equal weekly basic pay; overtime or allowances in the earnings period would raise the first 6 weeks of SMP.
- Offset: in any week where occupational pay and SMP overlap, you receive the occupational level in total. After occupational pay ends, SMP is paid on its own to week 39.
- Option C: 20/33 of weekly pay in weeks 7 to 39, with SMP inside it (our reading).
- Take-home: Scottish income tax 2026/27, NI and the flat 13.7% Scottish pension contribution, as in the salary calculator.
- Not included: pay rises or increments during leave, allowances and any KIT day pay.
Questions to put to People Direct
Get these answers in writing before your leave starts:
- Do I meet the 63-week test for occupational maternity pay, counting any service in another force?
- Do I meet the SMP test? What average weekly earnings figure will SMP use?
- What is my total under each of the three options? How is SMP offset under the spread option?
- Can I change my option once I have chosen it?
- What happens to any spread payments still due if I return before week 39?
- Is any occupational maternity pay repayable if I do not return?
- How will paid and unpaid maternity weeks count for my pension? Can I pay contributions for unpaid weeks?
- How much statutory annual leave will carry over? By when must I take it?
Common mistakes
- Adding SMP on top of full pay. It is offset against occupational pay; the total in a full pay week is full pay.
- Using the old 18 weeks. For babies due on or after 1 April 2026 it is 26 weeks.
- Assuming option C pays the same total as A. On our reading it pays less in total but more in later weeks. Confirm before choosing.
- Testing service on the wrong date. The 63 weeks are counted to the beginning of the week of the expected date of birth.
- Forgetting other forces count. Service in any police force counts towards the 63 weeks.
- A short first block. SMP stops at the end of the first block and does not restart.
- Losing statutory annual leave. It carries over, but must be used within 15 months of the end of the leave year.
- Using England and Wales tools for Scottish pay. They have no spread option and use a different pay scale.
- Late notice of return. You need at least 21 days.
What we could not verify
- How the SMP offset is applied to option C's spread payments (so the exact total under option C).
- Whether any occupational maternity pay must be repaid if you do not return: the handbook section we read does not say.
- Rules for babies due before 1 April 2026.
- How paid and unpaid maternity weeks count for pension in the 2015 Scottish scheme beyond the two weeks a year in handbook 3.15.
- The Maternity Allowance rate (set by the UK Government; not checked for this page).
- How average weekly earnings for SMP are worked out from your payslips: our tables assume they equal basic weekly pay.
- Whether option choices can be changed once made.
- Shared parental pay rates and neonatal care pay (handbook 3.12 and 3.19), not summarised.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much maternity pay do Police Scotland officers get?
For babies due on or after 1 April 2026, 26 weeks of full pay, or 21 weeks of full pay followed by 10 weeks of half pay plus half the rate of Statutory Maternity Pay, or 6 weeks of full pay with the value of the next 20 weeks' full pay spread over the following 33 weeks (PNBS handbook 3.7).
When did Police Scotland maternity pay go up to 26 weeks?
From 1 April 2026, under the PNBS 2025/26 and 2026/27 pay agreement (Circular 2025/09). Before then enhanced maternity and adoption pay was 18 weeks. The handbook applies the new options to babies expected on or after 1 April 2026.
What is 26 weeks of full pay worth for a Police Scotland constable?
At 1 April 2026 pay it ranges from £16,946 for a constable on commencing pay to £27,211 at the top of the constable scale, before tax, NI and pension. Weekly pay is annual pay divided by 52 1/6.
Who qualifies for Police Scotland occupational maternity pay?
An officer who, at the beginning of the week of the expected date of birth, has served continuously for at least 63 weeks in the Police Service of Scotland or any other police force and who is pregnant or has given birth (handbook 3.7).
Does service in an English police force count towards the 63 weeks?
Yes. The handbook counts continuous service in the Police Service of Scotland or any other police force.
Do I get Statutory Maternity Pay as well?
Officers are also eligible for SMP if they have worked for Police Scotland continuously for at least 26 weeks into the qualifying week (the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth). Where paid maternity leave and SMP overlap, occupational pay is offset by the SMP, so it is not paid on top. If you do not qualify for SMP you may get Maternity Allowance.
Which Police Scotland maternity option pays the most?
On our reading, options A (26 weeks' full pay) and B (21 weeks full then 10 weeks half pay plus half SMP) pay the same total over 39 weeks, because SMP is paid on its own after the occupational pay ends. Option C spreads 26 weeks of pay over 39 weeks with SMP inside it, so it pays less in total but more in each of weeks 27 to 39. Ask People Direct to confirm how the offset works for option C.
What is the spread option in Police Scotland maternity pay?
Option C: 6 weeks at full pay, then the value of the next 20 weeks' full pay spread across the following 33 weeks. That is about 61% of normal pay each week from week 7 to week 39.
How long is maternity leave in Police Scotland?
Up to 15 months, in one or more blocks. Blocks can start no earlier than 6 months before the expected date of birth and must end no later than 12 months after it. SMP stops at the end of the first block and does not restart.
How many keeping in touch days can I work on maternity leave?
Up to 10 KIT days, if you and the service both agree. You choose payment or time off in lieu for each day; TOIL must be taken within three months of your return. A KIT day in the occupational pay period is not paid as OMP and the OMP period is extended by a day (handbook 3.11).
Do I keep my annual leave while on maternity leave?
Statutory leave you cannot take because of maternity leave is carried into the next leave year automatically and must be taken within 15 months of the end of the leave year in which it built up (handbook 3.2.2).
Does adoption pay also rise to 26 weeks?
Yes. For the main adopter with a child placed on or after 1 April 2026 the same three options apply: 26 weeks' full pay, 21 weeks full then 10 weeks half pay plus half Statutory Adoption Pay, or 6 weeks full then 20 weeks' value over 33 weeks. You need 1 year's continuous service by the week an approved match is made (handbook 3.8).
What do partners get in Police Scotland?
Maternity support leave of one or two weeks: two weeks if you have 26 weeks' continuous service into the 15th week before the due date. The first week is full pay and the second is at the statutory paternity pay rate. It must be finished within 52 weeks of the birth (handbook 3.9).
Is time off for antenatal appointments paid?
Yes, for the pregnant officer, for appointments recommended by a GP, midwife or health visitor. Expectant fathers and partners can take unpaid leave for up to two antenatal sessions (handbook 3.6).
What happens if I am off sick with a pregnancy-related illness just before the birth?
A pregnancy-related absence in the 4 weeks before the expected week of childbirth triggers SMP. The absence is recorded as sick leave but you are paid SMP rather than sick pay (handbook 3.7).
Does maternity leave count for my Police Scotland pension?
The handbook's maternity section points to section 3.15, which says up to two weeks of unpaid leave a year count as reckonable for pension without extra contributions. It does not say how paid or longer unpaid maternity leave counts, so ask SPPA or People Direct before unpaid weeks start.
When does SMP stop for Police Scotland officers?
After 39 weeks, or earlier at the end of your first block of maternity leave if you split your leave into blocks. It does not restart for later blocks (handbook 3.7).
How much notice do I need to give to return?
At least 21 days' notice of your intention to return to duty. You can change the date if the new date meets the same notice rule.
Can I use the PolicePay maternity pay calculator for Police Scotland?
Our police maternity pay calculator models England and Wales rules, which have no spread option. Use this page and the PNBS handbook for Police Scotland and check your figures with Police Scotland HR (People Direct).
Sources and how we checked them
Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 22 and 23 October 2026. Rules and figures change, so check the source for the date you are reading this. Where we could not confirm something from an official or independent source, the page says so rather than guessing. Spotted something out of date? See our corrections policy.
- PNBS Circular 2025/09, Pay Agreement 2025-26 and 2026-27 : enhanced maternity and adoption pay from 18 to 26 weeks from 1 April 2026; weeks 21 to 31 at half pay plus half SMP (accessed 22 and 23 October 2026)
- PNBS police officer handbook, 3.7 Maternity leave and pay : 15 months' leave, blocks, 63 weeks' service, the three OMP options, SMP eligibility and offset, 21 days' notice (accessed 22 and 23 October 2026)
- PNBS police officer handbook, 3.11 KIT and SPLIT days : 10 KIT days, 20 SPLIT days, pay or TOIL, OMP extension (read 23 October 2026) (accessed 22 and 23 October 2026)
- PNBS police officer handbook, 3.6 Ante natal appointments : paid time off; partners' unpaid leave (read 23 October 2026) (accessed 22 and 23 October 2026)
- PNBS police officer handbook, 3.8 Adoption leave and pay : 52 weeks; 1 year's service; three OAP options from 1 April 2026 (read 23 October 2026) (accessed 22 and 23 October 2026)
- PNBS police officer handbook, 3.9 Maternity support leave and pay : one or two weeks; pay; notice (read 23 October 2026) (accessed 22 and 23 October 2026)
- PNBS police officer handbook, 3.2 Carry forward and carry over of annual leave : statutory leave carried over after maternity leave (read 23 October 2026) (accessed 22 and 23 October 2026)
- PNBS police officer handbook, 3.15 Unpaid leave : two weeks of unpaid leave a year reckonable for pension (read 23 October 2026) (accessed 22 and 23 October 2026)
- PNBS police officer handbook, 2.11 Calculation of pay : weekly pay = annual / 52 1/6 (used for the illustrations) (accessed 22 and 23 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: Maternity pay and leave, Pay : SMP 90% for 6 weeks, then £194.32 or 90% if lower for 33 weeks (checked 23 October 2026) (accessed 22 and 23 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: Scottish Income Tax : take-home figures (accessed 22 and 23 October 2026)
- PNBS Circular 2026/01 : pay points from 1 April 2026 (accessed 22 and 23 October 2026)
- Police Scotland: Rewards and benefits : parental leave, shared parental leave, career breaks, flexible working (accessed 22 and 23 October 2026)
- Home Office Circular 003/2020: Annex L (England and Wales maternity pay) : England and Wales comparison (accessed 22 and 23 October 2026)
On this topic elsewhere
More in this guide series
Police Scotland calculators and related guides
Disclaimer
PolicePay.co.uk is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with Police Scotland, the Scottish Police Authority, the Police Negotiating Board for Scotland, the Scottish Police Federation or the Scottish Public Pensions Agency. This page is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Pay and conditions are set through the PNBS and approved by Scottish Ministers and SPPA's figures are the only official pension figures, so check the PNBS handbook, your payslip and your Annual Benefit Statement before relying on anything here. Details are as checked on 22 and 23 October 2026.