Dentists can claim maternity leave payments if they meet the qualifying conditions.
They can claim for a period of 26 weeks starting:
- no earlier than the 11th week before the week they're due to give birth
- no later than the week they're due to give birth
Maternity leave payments are taxable and fully pensionable.
If the performer leaves the contract during the payment period, payments will stop.
Read the full Statement of Financial Entitlement (SFE).
Who can apply
A provider can claim maternity leave payments for a performer it employs if the performer has:
- been named on an NHS dental performer list for 2 years with 26 weeks continuous employment before the week they're due to give birth - this period must precede the 15th week before they're due to give birth
- become pregnant and reached the 11th week before the week they're due to give birth
- stopped performing dental services on the contract
- not registered as a Limited Company
Foundation dentists can apply for maternity leave payments once they've completed one years foundation dentist training and one year as a qualified performer.
If the SFE application relates to surrogacy, email our SFE team at sfe@nhsbsa.nhs.uk who'll assist further.
How to apply
You can apply for maternity leave payments by downloading and completing the application form.
Performer's in England must email their completed application to nhsbsa.dentalservices@nhsbsa.nhs.uk.
Performer's in Wales must email their completed application to nwssp-primarycareservices@wales.nhs.uk.
Separate applications must be made for each contract you're a performer on.
Applications must be received:
- no earlier than one month before the payment start date
- no later than 3 months after the payment start date
You must check the figures are correct on Compass before the claim is submitted.
A recalculation will only be made in exceptional circumstances.
Sending evidence
The application must include:
- a MATB1 or written statement by a registered healthcare professional confirming the week the performer is due to give birth
- written confirmation from the provider that to the best of their knowledge no claim for sickness leave payment have been made by the performer for the period the claim relates to
- the performer's Statutory Maternity Allowance (SMA) letter
Payments
Providers are paid a weekly amount based on the performer’s Net Pensionable Earnings (NPE) or Net Pensionable Earnings Equivalent (NPEE) on Compass at the date the payment is due.
Weekly payments cannot exceed £1,660 for dental performer and £3,630 for orthodontic performers.
An orthodontic performer is a performer who earns 50% or more of their weekly NPE or NPEE from orthodontic services.
If the performer can claim Maternity Allowance (MA), an amount equal to this is deducted from their payment.
If the performer cannot claim MA, or claims a reduced amount, evidence of this from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) must be sent.