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Maternity Allowance
The Maternity Allowance is a weekly benefit which you may be entitled to claim if you are pregnant or have just had a baby and you do not qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay.
You may not be entitled to claim Statutory Maternity Pay for a number of reasons, such as you were self-employed, recently left work or changed job. The Maternity Allowance is paid for a period of up to 26 weeks.
The earliest date that your maternity allowance period can start is the 11th week before your expected week of childbirth, and the latest date is the Sunday after your child is born
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Do I qualify?
You will qualify for the Maternity Allowance if:
- You are pregnant and the expected date of childbirth is within the next 11 weeks, or;
- You have recently given birth, and;
- You are not entitled to claim Statutory Maternity Pay, and;
- You are not employed during the 26 week Maternity Allowance period, and;
- You have worked for at least 26 weeks in the 66 weeks immediately before your expected week of childbirth (it doesn’t matter whether the 26 weeks are consecutive of not, and if you only worked for part of the week, then the whole week counts toward the 26 week requirement, and;
- Your average earnings for at least 13 of the weeks in the 66 weeks immediately before your expected date of childbirth must be at least equal to the Maternity Allowance threshold – currently £30 a week.
In order to calculate your average earnings, you should take the best 13 weeks in which you have paid National Insurance Contributions out of the 66 weeks before your expected date of childbirth, add your earnings together and divide by 13.
How much will I receive?
The amount of Maternity Allowance that you can expect to receive is either £108.85 a week or 90% of your earnings (whichever is the lesser amount).
You may also be entitled to claim an additional amount of £36.60 a week for an adult dependent, such as a spouse or partner, ex-partner or children’s nanny (see the Is there anything else I should know? section below).
How do I claim?
You will need to complete the Maternity Allowance claim form (MA1) in order to make your claim.
You can obtain the Maternity Allowance claim form (MA1) either by contacting your nearest Jobcentre Plus Office, or your local antenatal clinic may have the forms.
Alternatively, you can download the form from the Department for Work and Pensions website by logging on to www.dwp.gov.uk, or by clicking your mouse on the following link:
Please click here to download the Maternity Allowance claim pack (MA1).
Is there anything else I should know?
You will only qualify for an additional amount for your husband if his income is no more than £36.60 a week and he isn’t claiming benefit in his own right.
However, if you are claiming an additional amount for someone who you employ to look after your child for you, such as a partner, ex-partner or children’s nanny, their wages and other income can be ignored providing that they don’t live with you. If they do live with you, then the wages that you pay them to look after your child will be ignored, but if they have other earning above £36.60 a week, you will not qualify.
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