Pregnancy generates more paperwork than most people expect. Between scans, appointments, and planning for leave, one document catches expectant parents off guard every year: the MAT B1 form.
Without this certificate, neither your employer nor the government can confirm your due date — which means no Statutory Maternity Pay and no Maternity Allowance. It’s a small piece of paper that unlocks significant financial support, and understanding how it works saves stress at an already busy time.
The same questions come up constantly: when do you get the MAT B1? Can you download it? Who fills it in? What happens if you lose it?
And in 2026, there’s a new layer of confusion: NHS maternity services are moving toward digital records, so some parents now receive the certificate electronically rather than on paper.
This guide answers all of it — when you get the MAT B1, how to hand it over, what it means for agency workers, and how the digital version works.
What Is the MAT B1 Form?
The MAT B1 is an official maternity certificate that a doctor or registered midwife issues to confirm pregnancy and state the Expected Week of Childbirth (EWC). GOV.UK’s official MAT B1 guidance for healthcare professionals confirms the certificate enables a pregnant woman to claim Statutory Maternity Pay, Maternity Allowance, and the Sure Start Maternity Grant — and doctors or registered midwives must issue it free of charge to pregnant patients for whom they provide clinical care.
The certificate contains four core pieces of information:
| Section | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Patient details | Identifies the pregnant employee |
| Expected Week of Childbirth | Confirms the due date |
| Date of issue | Confirms the pregnancy stage |
| Signature of doctor or midwife | Verifies authenticity |
For the MAT B1 to be valid, registered midwives must include their Nursing and Midwifery Council personal identification number, and doctors must use their name and address stamp. The qualifying conditions and payment periods of both SMP and Maternity Allowance depend on the EWC date entered on the form.
When Do You Get the MAT B1?
Most parents receive the certificate at around the 20-week mark of pregnancy. Healthcare professionals cannot legally sign it earlier — the due date needs confirmation first.
| Pregnancy Stage | What Usually Happens |
|---|---|
| 12 weeks | First antenatal appointments |
| 20 weeks | MAT B1 issued |
| 25 weeks | Maternity leave notice is often given |
| 15 weeks before due date | Employer notification deadline for SMP |
GOV.UK’s maternity pay and leave guidance confirms that doctors and midwives issue the MATB1 no more than 20 weeks before the due date — and you must give your employer proof of pregnancy within 21 days of your SMP start date, or as soon as possible if the baby arrives early.
Don’t panic if yours doesn’t arrive at exactly 20 weeks. Maternity clinics often issue the certificate at the next appointment or post it shortly afterward. If your appointment falls at 19 weeks and a few days, your midwife may simply issue it a little later — that’s normal practice and doesn’t affect your eligibility.
How to Get the MATB1 Form
The MAT B1 arrives through your normal antenatal care — there’s no separate application process.
- Attend your antenatal appointments with your GP or midwife
- Around 20 weeks, your healthcare professional prepares and signs the certificate
- You receive it directly from your clinician
- You submit it to your employer or include it with your benefit claim
After a MAT B1 is issued, a clinician should only issue a replacement based on the same examination to correct a date or replace a lost certificate. MATB1s are not available for use outside of the UK; pregnant women working abroad but employed by a UK-based employer need a letter from their doctor or midwife instead.
Can You Download the MAT B1 Form Online?
No — and this is one of the most common misunderstandings.
The MAT B1 is not a form you can download and complete yourself. GOV.UK confirms healthcare professionals order the forms through DWP — members of the public cannot access blank versions. Only doctors or registered midwives can issue the certificate.
Sample versions appear in search results, and looking at one helps you understand what your midwife will record. But a self-completed version carries no legal weight for an SMP or Maternity Allowance claim.
Digital MAT B1 Forms and NHS Apps (2026 Update)
Some NHS trusts now issue the certificate electronically through digital maternity record platforms. Two of the most common are Badger Notes and My Pregnancy Notes.
Through these apps, your midwife can upload the MAT B1 as a secure PDF, a digitally signed document, or a printable file.
Most employers accept a printed PDF, but check with your employer’s HR or payroll team before assuming a screenshot will do. For Maternity Allowance claims specifically, GOV.UK’s Maternity Allowance guidance confirms the original certificate is required — not a photocopy.
Why You Need the MAT B1
Employers cannot legally process Statutory Maternity Pay without proof of pregnancy. The MAT B1 provides that proof.
GOV.UK’s SMP employer guide confirms employees must give 28 days’ notice of their SMP start date — and employers must confirm within 28 days how much SMP the employee will receive and when it starts and stops.
For Maternity Allowance claims, the original MATB1 certificate must accompany the MA1 claim form — a photocopy does not satisfy this requirement.
MAT B1 vs MA1 Form: Two Different Things
| Feature | MAT B1 | MA1 |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Proof of pregnancy | Apply for Maternity Allowance |
| Issued by | Doctor or midwife | Completed by the applicant |
| Needed for | SMP or MA claims | Maternity Allowance only |
| Can you download it | No | Yes — from GOV.UK |
Think of it this way: the MAT B1 proves you’re pregnant, the MA1 is the application form you submit to claim the money. Many Maternity Allowance claims require both.
How to Submit the MAT B1 to Your Employer
Once you have the certificate, the submission process is straightforward.
GOV.UK’s SMP employer notice guidance confirms employees must give 28 days’ notice before their intended maternity leave start date — and employers cannot refuse maternity leave or change the amount of leave an employee wants to take.
Steps:
- Notify your employer of your pregnancy and intended leave dates
- Give them the MAT B1 certificate
- Your employer confirms eligibility and sets up SMP through payroll
Keep a photo or scan of the form before handing it over. Originals get lost in payroll systems more often than you’d expect.
What If You’re an Agency Worker?
Agency workers sometimes wonder whether the MAT B1 goes to the agency or the workplace.
GOV.UK’s Maternity Allowance notes confirm that if you have more than one employer during the 15th week before your baby is due, you must send an SMP1 from each employer, and the agency that pays your wages acts as your employer for payroll and Statutory Maternity Pay purposes.
Give the certificate to the agency that processes your pay. If you work multiple jobs through different agencies, each one may need a copy.
What If Your Employer Refuses Statutory Maternity Pay?
Acas confirms that if an employer decides an employee doesn’t qualify for SMP, they must issue form SMP1 explaining the reason within 7 days — and return the original MAT B1 certificate to the employee so she can use both documents to claim Maternity Allowance instead.
If you receive an SMP1 and disagree with the decision, contact the Statutory Payments Dispute Team on 0300 322 9422.
Statutory Maternity Pay Rates (2026)
| Payment Period | Amount |
|---|---|
| First 6 weeks | 90% of average weekly earnings |
| Next 33 weeks | £187.18 or 90% of earnings (whichever is lower) |
GOV.UK’s SMP employer entitlement confirms SMP runs for up to 39 weeks — and most employers reclaim 92% of SMP paid through their PAYE system, with small employers eligible to reclaim 108.5% through Small Employers’ Relief.
Understanding how income tax and National Insurance interact with maternity pay helps you plan take-home pay during leave — SMP is taxable income and subject to NI deductions in the same way as your normal salary.
Calculating the Qualifying Week
QW = EWC − 15 weeks
To qualify for SMP you must be employed during that qualifying week and have worked for the same employer for at least 26 consecutive weeks before it. Acas confirms the minimum earnings threshold rises to £129 per week from 6 April 2026.
What If You Lose the MAT B1?
Contact your midwife or GP surgery. Healthcare providers can issue a replacement certificate — but only based on the same original examination. Take a photo or scan immediately after receiving the form. Handing over the only copy to an employer who then loses it is a surprisingly common problem.
MAT B1 Appointment Checklist
Before leaving the midwife appointment:
- ✔ Your name appears correctly
- ✔ The Expected Week of Childbirth is accurate
- ✔ The certificate carries a signature and NMC number (or doctor’s stamp)
- ✔ The issue date falls at or after 20 weeks
- ✔ You photograph or scan the form before submission
FAQs
Q. What is a MAT B1 form?
An official maternity certificate a doctor or registered midwife issues to confirm pregnancy, state the Expected Week of Childbirth, and enable the pregnant woman to claim SMP, Maternity Allowance, and the Sure Start Maternity Grant.
Q. When do you get your MAT B1 form?
At around 20 weeks, during a routine antenatal appointment — GOV.UK confirms doctors and midwives issue it no more than 20 weeks before the due date.
Can I download the MAT B1 form? No. Healthcare professionals order MAT B1 forms from the DWP — members of the public cannot download or complete the form independently.
Q. When should I give my MAT B1 form to my employer?
At least 15 weeks before your due date when notifying your employer, and within 21 days of your SMP start date — as confirmed on GOV.UK’s maternity pay eligibility page.
Q. Does my employer keep the MAT B1 form?
Yes — as part of payroll records. If an employer later issues an SMP1 refusing pay, Acas confirms they must return the original MAT B1 to the employee within 7 days.
Q. Can the MAT B1 form be digital?
Yes. Some NHS trusts now issue digital certificates through maternity apps. Most employers accept a printed PDF — but GOV.UK’s Maternity Allowance guidance requires the original document for MA claims, not a photocopy.
Conclusion
The MAT B1 is the document that starts the maternity pay process. A midwife or doctor issues it at around 20 weeks, you hand it to your employer or attach it to your benefit claim, and the payment system moves forward from there.
You cannot download it, fill it in yourself, or skip it. Without it, neither SMP nor Maternity Allowance processing can begin.
Keep a copy, check the details before leaving the appointment, and submit it to your employer alongside your maternity leave notice. For Maternity Allowance claims, use the GOV.UK MA1 claim form and include the original MAT B1 — not a photocopy.
As NHS maternity services continue moving toward digital records, more parents will receive the certificate through apps or secure PDFs. Whether paper or digital, the certificate’s role stays the same: it’s your proof of pregnancy, and nothing in the maternity pay system moves without it.
For reliable, plain-English guidance on UK tax and personal finance in 2026, Pure Magazine is the resource worth bookmarking.
