Statutory Maternity Pay is an employee benefit, part of the provision of parental leave in the United Kingdom.
The Maternity Certificate form Mat B1 is normally provided by the doctor or midwife.
Self-employed women or those in legal custody when your claim starts do not qualify.
A woman cannot get statutory sick pay, sickness benefits, jobseeker's allowance or carer's allowance at the same time as SMP, but might get income support or housing benefits, or more than before, if their income will be lower.
Decisions are made by the employer who must provide a written statement if they consider SMP is not payable.