MATB1 Form Explained: What It Is, When You Get It & Why You Need It

What Is a MATB1 Form?

The MATB1 (Maternity Certificate) is an official medical document issued by your midwife or doctor that confirms your pregnancy and expected due date. It's essential for claiming Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) from your employer or Maternity Allowance from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Your employer cannot process your SMP without a MATB1 certificate. If you're claiming Maternity Allowance instead, you'll need to include your MATB1 with your MA1 application form.

When Do You Get Your MATB1 Certificate?

Your midwife or GP can issue your MATB1 from 20 weeks of pregnancy onwards. Most women receive theirs at their 20-week anomaly scan or shortly after.

You should aim to get your MATB1 well before the 15th week before your due date (around week 25 of pregnancy), as this is the deadline for notifying your employer about your maternity leave.

Key Dates to Remember

•20 weeks — your MATB1 can be issued from this point

•20-25 weeks — collect your MATB1 from your midwife or GP

•25 weeks — deadline to notify your employer (the 15th week before your expected week of childbirth)

•29 weeks — the earliest your maternity leave can start (11 weeks before your EWC)

Use our Maternity Leave Planner to calculate all of these key dates automatically based on your due date.

What Information Is on the MATB1?

The MATB1 certificate contains:

•Your name

•Your expected week of childbirth (EWC) — this is the week your baby is due, starting on a Sunday

•The date the certificate was signed

•Whether the baby has already been born (if applicable)

•The signature and professional details of the midwife or doctor

Important: The MATB1 states your "expected week of childbirth" which starts on the Sunday before your due date. This is a specific legal term used for SMP eligibility calculations.

How to Get Your MATB1

1.Ask your midwife at your 20-week appointment or any routine antenatal visit after that

2.Ask your GP if you haven't been able to get one from your midwife

3.Hospital consultants can also issue MATB1 certificates

The MATB1 is free. You should never be charged for it. If your original is lost, your midwife or doctor can issue a replacement.

What Does Your Employer Do with the MATB1?

When you submit your MATB1 to your employer, they use it to:

•Verify your due date for calculating the qualifying week

•Confirm SMP eligibility — you must have been employed for 26 weeks by the qualifying week

•Set up SMP payments through payroll

•Claim SMP reimbursement from HMRC (employers can reclaim 92-103% of SMP)

Your employer must keep the MATB1 for at least 3 years after the end of the tax year in which SMP was paid.

What Happens After You Submit Your MATB1?

Once your employer receives your MATB1, the process of confirming your maternity leave and pay begins. Your employer must respond to your maternity leave notification within 28 days, confirming your expected return date. They will pass your MATB1 to their payroll department to set up your Statutory Maternity Pay payments.

If there are any issues with your MATB1 — for example, if the dates don't match your notification letter — your employer should contact you to resolve it. If your employer believes you don't qualify for SMP, they must provide you with an SMP1 form explaining why, so you can claim Maternity Allowance instead.

It's a good idea to submit your MATB1 at the same time as your maternity leave letter. This keeps things simple and ensures your employer has everything they need in one go. Keep a photocopy or photograph of the original MATB1 for your records before handing it over.

Do You Need the Original MATB1?

Ideally yes — your employer may request the original certificate. However, a copy may be accepted by some employers. For Maternity Allowance claims to the DWP, you must send the original MATB1 (it will be returned to you).

If you work for multiple employers or need the form for different purposes, ask your midwife for additional copies.

MATB1 and Maternity Allowance

If you're claiming Maternity Allowance instead of SMP, you need to include your MATB1 with your MA1 application form. Send the original — the DWP will return it.

You can apply for Maternity Allowance from the 26th week of pregnancy. Use our Maternity Allowance Calculator to estimate your weekly payment.

What If You Can't Get a MATB1?

In rare cases where you can't obtain a MATB1 (for example, if you're receiving maternity care abroad), your employer or the DWP may accept alternative medical evidence. Contact HMRC (for SMP queries) or the DWP (for MA) to discuss your situation.

Key Things to Remember

•Get your MATB1 from 20 weeks of pregnancy

•Submit it to your employer with your maternity leave notification

•Your employer needs it to process your Statutory Maternity Pay

•Keep a copy for your own records

•It's free — you should never be charged

Related Resources

•Maternity Pay Calculator — calculate your SMP entitlement

•Maternity Leave Planner — work out your key dates and deadlines

•Maternity Leave Letter Templates — how to notify your employer