Maternity Allowance is a United Kingdom state benefit for women who are working but not entitled to

Statutory Maternity Pay Statutory Maternity Pay is an employee benefit, part of the provision of parental leave in the United Kingdom. Main conditions The mother must have been working for the same employer for six months continuously in the week 14 weeks before the ba ...

Main conditions

Women who are unable to get Statutory Maternity Pay. Entitlement starts at the 11th week before the baby is due.

Amount

Claimants will receive £156.66 a week or 90% of their average weekly earnings (whichever is less). It’s paid for up to 39 weeks and is not taxable or means-tested.

How to Claim

A certificate giving the expected date of confinement and proof of income are needed. If the employer has refused Statutory Maternity Pay they should issue form SMP1. You must claim within 3 months of being entitled.

Earnings rule

No benefit is payable for any day worked.

Contribution test

You must have worked for at least 26 weeks out of the last 66 weeks ending with the 15th week before your baby is due and been earning at least £30 a week over any 13 week period

Effect on other benefits

You cannot get this together with any other Contributory Benefit or Jobseeker's Allowance. It counts in full as income for

Income Support Income Support is an income-related benefit in the United Kingdom for some people who are on a low income, but have a reason for not actively seeking work. Claimants of Income Support may be entitled to certain other benefits, for example, Housing ...

Housing Benefit Housing Benefit is a means-tested social security benefit in the United Kingdom that is intended to help meet housing costs for rented accommodation. It is the second biggest item in the Department for Work and Pensions' budget after the stat ...

, but it is ignored for Tax Credits. If you cannot get Maternity Allowance you might get

Employment and Support Allowance Employment is a relationship between two parties regulating the provision of paid labour services. Usually based on a contract, one party, the employer, which might be a corporation, a not-for-profit organization, a co-operative, or any other ...

References

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External links

Maternity Allowance
Social security in the United Kingdom Maternity in the United Kingdom