How much maternity leave am I entitled to on the Isle of Man?

All pregnant employees on the Isle of Man are entitled to 26 weeks of Ordinary Maternity Leave, regardless of length of service. If you have at least 26 weeks' continuous service by the 14th week before your expected week of childbirth, you also qualify for a further 26 weeks of Additional Maternity Leave — giving up to 52 weeks in total. You must take at least 2 weeks of compulsory leave immediately after the birth.

Is maternity leave paid on the Isle of Man?

There is no Statutory Maternity Pay on the Isle of Man — employers have no legal obligation to pay you during maternity leave. However, you may be entitled to Maternity Allowance from the Isle of Man Government's Social Security Division, paid at 90% of your average weekly earnings up to a maximum of £257.25 per week for up to 39 weeks. Some employers offer contractual maternity pay, so check your contract.

What is Maternity Allowance on the Isle of Man?

Maternity Allowance is a social security benefit paid by the Isle of Man Treasury. It is available for up to 39 weeks. Employees receive 90% of average weekly earnings up to a maximum of £257.25 per week. Self-employed women paying Class 2 National Insurance receive £224 per week; those with a Small Earnings Exception Certificate receive £27 per week. To qualify, you must have worked for at least 26 weeks out of the 66 weeks before your expected week of childbirth and earned at least £30 per week in any 13 of those weeks. You may also receive a one-off Maternity Payment if you qualify.

How does Isle of Man maternity leave compare to the UK?

The biggest difference is pay. In the UK, employers must pay Statutory Maternity Pay (90% of earnings for 6 weeks, then a flat rate for 33 weeks). On the Isle of Man, there is no employer-paid statutory pay at all — instead, the government pays Maternity Allowance directly. Leave entitlements are similar: both offer up to 52 weeks of maternity leave (26 weeks ordinary + 26 weeks additional).

Maternity Leave on the Isle of Man

A guide to maternity leave entitlements, Maternity Allowance, and your rights as an expectant mother on the Isle of Man.

Last updated: 3 August 2026 · By the pregnancy.im team

Key takeaway

Pregnant employees on the Isle of Man are entitled to up to 52 weeks' maternity leave under the Employment Act 2006. There is no Statutory Maternity Pay, but you may claim Maternity Allowance of up to £257.25 per week for 39 weeks from the IoM Government.

Maternity leave entitlement

Under the Employment Act 2006, all pregnant employees on the Isle of Man are entitled to maternity leave. The total amount depends on your length of service.

Key facts

Ordinary Maternity Leave (OML): 26 weeks — available to all pregnant employees, regardless of length of service
Additional Maternity Leave (AML): A further 26 weeks — available if you have at least 26 weeks' continuous service by the 14th week before your expected week of childbirth (EWC)
Maximum total: Up to 52 weeks (1 year) of maternity leave
Compulsory leave: You must take at least 2 weeks' leave immediately after the birth — your employer cannot allow you to return to work during this period

Maternity leave can begin any time from the 11th week before your due date. If you are off work for a pregnancy-related reason in the 4 weeks before your due date, your maternity leave will start automatically.

Is maternity leave paid?

There is no Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) on the Isle of Man. Unlike the UK, employers have no legal obligation to pay you during maternity leave. In November 2025, Treasury Minister Dr Alex Allinson confirmed there are no plans to introduce SMP.

However, financial support is available:

Maternity Allowance

Maternity Allowance is paid by the Isle of Man Government's Social Security Division (funded from the Manx National Insurance Fund):

Duration: Up to 39 weeks
Employees: 90% of your average weekly earnings, up to a maximum of £257.25 per week
Self-employed (Class 2 NI): £224 per week
Self-employed (Small Earnings Exception): £27 per week
Eligibility: You must have worked for at least 26 weeks out of the 66 weeks before your EWC, and earned at least £30 per week in any 13 of those weeks
Who can claim: Both employed and self-employed women who are ordinarily resident on the Isle of Man
When to claim: From the 14th week before your EWC, with your MAT B1 certificate (available from your midwife or GP)

Maternity Payment

If you or your partner receive employed person's allowance (EPA), income support, or income-based jobseeker's allowance, you may be entitled to a one-off Maternity Payment to help with the costs of a new baby. This is claimed separately from Maternity Allowance.

Some employers offer contractual maternity pay as part of their employment package — check your contract or staff handbook
Isle of Man Government employees receive paid maternity leave under the Manx Public Terms and Conditions

Rates above are taken from the official gov.im Maternity Allowance page. Always confirm current rates before applying.

How to notify your employer

You must notify your employer of your intention to take maternity leave by the 15th week before your expected week of childbirth (around 25 weeks of pregnancy), or as soon as reasonably practicable. Your notification should be in writing and include:

Confirmation that you are pregnant
Your expected week of childbirth (supported by your MAT B1 certificate from your midwife or GP)
The date you intend to start your maternity leave

Changing your plans

To change your start date, give your employer at least 28 days' notice
To return to work early, give your employer at least 28 days' notice

Your rights during maternity leave

Returning to work

After Ordinary Maternity Leave (first 26 weeks): you have the right to return to the same job on the same terms and conditions
After Additional Maternity Leave (weeks 27–52): you have the right to return to the same job, or if that is not reasonably practicable, to suitable alternative work on no less favourable terms

Antenatal care

You are entitled to reasonable paid time off for antenatal appointments
This includes midwife-recommended classes (e.g. parent-craft, relaxation, aqua-natal) if you can provide evidence of appointments
From 1 April 2025, your partner is also entitled to time off on two occasions (up to 6.5 hours each) to attend antenatal appointments with you

Keeping in Touch (KIT) days

You can work up to 10 KIT days during maternity leave without losing your Maternity Allowance
KIT days must be agreed by both you and your employer — neither party is obligated
Pay or time off in lieu for KIT days should be agreed before the work is done

Protection from dismissal

Dismissal for any reason connected with pregnancy or maternity leave is automatically unfair — no minimum qualifying period of service is required to bring a claim
It is unlawful to make you redundant because you are pregnant or on maternity leave
Employers must provide suitable rest facilities for breastfeeding women returning to work

Shared Parental Leave (from 1 November 2025)

Shared Parental Leave was introduced to the Isle of Man on 1 November 2025 under the Employment (Amendment) Act 2024. This allows you to share your remaining maternity leave with your partner.

How Shared Parental Leave works

Parents can share up to 50 weeks of leave in the first 12 months of their child's life
You can transfer some or all of your remaining maternity leave to your partner
Leave can be taken by either parent, or by both parents at the same time
Leave can be taken in up to 3 separate blocks (subject to employer agreement)
The same rights apply to adoptive parents
A Shared Parental Allowance is available at £257.25 per week or 90% of average weekly earnings, whichever is lower

Both maternity and paternity leave remain available as standalone options. Shared Parental Leave is an additional choice. For more on your partner's entitlements, see our paternity leave guide.

For the official guide, visit gov.im — Family Leave Rights.

Parental Bereavement Leave

Also introduced on 1 November 2025, parents are entitled to take 2 weeks' leave following the death of a child under the age of 18, including cases of stillbirth (from 24 weeks of pregnancy). This leave can be taken as:

A single 2-week block, or
Two separate 1-week blocks within the first year after the child's death

Parents who suffer a miscarriage before 24 weeks of pregnancy are entitled to 1 week of leave.

A Parental Bereavement Allowance is available to support parents financially during this leave. For more information, see our pregnancy loss support guide.

Comparison with UK maternity leave

	Isle of Man	UK
Maternity leave	Up to 52 weeks (26 OML + 26 AML)	Up to 52 weeks (26 OML + 26 AML)
Statutory Maternity Pay	Does not exist. No employer obligation to pay	90% of earnings for 6 weeks, then £187.18/week for 33 weeks (2025/26)
Maternity Allowance	Up to £257.25/week for 39 weeks, paid by government	Up to £187.18/week for 39 weeks (2025/26), for those not eligible for SMP
OML qualifying service	None — all employees qualify	None — all employees qualify
AML qualifying service	26 weeks by the 14th week before EWC	26 weeks by the 15th week before EWC
Shared Parental Leave	Up to 50 weeks (from Nov 2025)	Up to 50 weeks (since 2015)
Legislation	Employment Act 2006 & Employment (Amendment) Act 2024 (Tynwald)	Employment Rights Act 1996 & various regulations (Westminster)

The key practical difference is pay. On the Isle of Man, all financial support comes from the government (Maternity Allowance), not from your employer. For higher earners, this can mean significantly lower income replacement than the UK’s SMP system, which pays 90% of earnings for the first 6 weeks.

For a broader comparison of pregnancy-related differences, see our Isle of Man vs UK pregnancy guide.

Useful links

Sources

Disclaimer: This page is for general information only and reflects the position as of August 2026. Benefit rates change periodically — always check the official gov.im pages linked above for current figures. For medical advice, speak to your midwife, health visitor, or GP. For advice on employment rights, contact the Isle of Man Office of Fair Trading.