What is Maternity Allowance?
Maternity Allowance is a benefit for pregnant women who cannot get Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) from their employer. It provides financial assistance to help those women who are not entitled to SMP or have reduced earnings due to pregnancy and childbirth.
To qualify for Maternity Allowance, you must meet certain criteria such as having worked for at least 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before your expected week of childbirth, earning above a certain amount during this time period, and being self-employed or employed by an employer who does not offer SMP.
How much Maternity Allowance can I claim?
The amount of Maternity Allowance you can claim depends on how much you have earned in the qualifying period. You may be eligible for a weekly rate of either £172.48 or 90 percent of your average weekly earnings, whichever is lower. The maximum payment per week is £172.48 and the minimum payment per week is £27. If you are eligible for the standard rate, you can get up to 39 weeks of payments.
What benefits can I claim with Maternity Allowance?
You may also be eligible for other benefits when claiming Maternity Allowance such as Sure Start Maternity Grant, Child Benefit and Tax Credits, depending on your individual circumstances. Universal credit may also be available if you are on a low income or not working.
What are the eligibility criteria for Maternity Allowance?
To be eligible for Maternity Allowance, you must meet certain criteria including having worked for at least 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before your expected week of childbirth, earning above a certain amount during this time period, and being self-employed or employed by an employer who does not offer SMP.
Can I claim Maternity Allowance as Self-Employed?
You can claim Maternity Allowance as a self-employed person. To qualify for the standard rate of Maternity Allowance, you must have paid Class 2 National Insurance contributions during the 66-week period leading up to your expected date of childbirth, in other words, you should be registered as self-employed with HMRC for 66 weeks before the labour. If you are eligible, you can get up to 39 weeks of payments.
If you haven`t paid your Class 2 NIC, you`ll still be allowed £27 per week.
Conclusion
Maternity Allowance provides financial assistance for pregnant women who cannot get Statutory Maternity Pay or have reduced earnings due to pregnancy and childbirth. To be eligible, you must meet certain criteria such as having worked for at least 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before your expected week of childbirth, earning above a certain amount during this time period, and being self-employed or employed by an employer who does not offer SMP. The amount of Maternity Allowance you can claim depends on how much you have earned in the qualifying period, with a minimum payment per week of £27 and a maximum payment per week of £172.48. You may also be eligible for other benefits when claiming Maternity Allowance such as Sure Start Maternity Grant, Child Benefit and Tax Credits. Self-employed people may also be eligible for Maternity Allowance, although they must have paid Class 2 National Insurance contributions during the 66-week period leading up to their expected date of childbirth.
