If you're pregnant but don't qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) from any employer, you may be able to claim Maternity Allowance from Jobcentre Plus.

You might get Maternity Allowance if:

• you're employed, but not eligible for Statutory Maternity Pay
• you're registered as self-employed and paying Class 2 National Insurance contributions (NICs), or hold a Small Earnings Exception certificate
• you have just stopped working 

You must have been employed and/or self-employed for at least 26 weeks and getting £30 a week or more for at least 13 weeks in your 66-week test period.

You may be able to claim Maternity Allowance after 26 weeks of pregnancy and get paid when there are 11 weeks left before your baby is due.

If you’re employed or have recently stopped working

You’ll get £172.48 a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings (whichever is less) for 39 weeks if you’re employed or have recently stopped working.

You can get Maternity Allowance for up to 39 weeks. This means if you take the full 52 weeks Statutory Maternity Leave, your final 13 weeks will be unpaid.

If you’re self-employed

You can get between £27 to £172.48 a week for 39 weeks if you’re self-employed.

How much you get depends on how many Class 2 National Insurance contributions you’ve made in the 66 weeks before your baby is due.

To get £172.48 per week, you must have:

• been registered with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for at least 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before your baby is due
• paid Class 2 National Insurance contributions for at least 13 of the 66 weeks before the baby is due

If you’ve paid less than 13 weeks of Class 2 National Insurance contributions, your Maternity Allowance will be calculated based on how many weeks of contributions you’ve made.

If you’ve not paid any Class 2 National Insurance contributions, you’ll be entitled to £27 per week Maternity Allowance.

Increase your Maternity Allowance

You can increase your Maternity Allowance by paying more Class 2 National Insurance contributions.

After you’ve applied for Maternity Allowance, HMRC will tell you how many additional Class 2 National Insurance contributions you need to pay.

If you pay your additional Class 2 National Insurance contributions, you’ll get £172.48 per week for 39 weeks.

Class 2 National Insurance contributions for 2023-2024 are £3.45 per week.

If you do unpaid work for your spouse or civil partner’s business

You can get £27 a week for up to 14 weeks if you do unpaid work for your spouse or civil partner’s business.

How you’re paid

Maternity Allowance is paid every 2 or 4 weeks.

Please remember that if you get a Maternity Allowance it may affect your other benefits, as there is a limited amount of benefit that you can get.

MATERNITY ALLOWANCE FOR 14 WEEKS

You might get Maternity Allowance for 14 weeks if for at least 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before your baby is due:

- you're married or in a civil partnership

- you're not employed or self-employed

- you regularly take part in the business of your self-employed spouse or civil partner, who is registered with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and working as such and pays Class 2 National Insurance

- the work you do is for the business and unpaid

- you're not eligible for Statutory Maternity Pay or the higher amount of Maternity Allowance (for the same pregnancy)

Maternity Allowance can be paid for up to 39 weeks.

You do not pay income tax or NI contributions on Maternity Allowance.

Many working women are not aware about the opportunity to get the Maternity Allowance, or are unsure if they are entitled to claim this benefit.

Our specialists are always there to help and to give professional advice on how to apply for the Maternity Allowance benefit.

Please contact us on 07789758177 / 02082211165, and we will help you find out if you are eligible to receive Maternity Allowance.