Maternity Allowance (MA)

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Someone who is not eligible for SMP may qualify for MA, paid through the local Jobcentre Plus. There are three types of MA:

• workers who cannot meet the SMP eligibility criteria (and some self-employed workers) will qualify for MA for 39 weeks at the flat weekly rate of £151.97 (2021-22), or 90% of average weekly wages if less;

• some self-employed people who have not paid enough Class 2 National Insurance to qualify for the full rate of MA £151.97 (2021-22) but who meet the other eligibility criteria for MA will get the lower flat rate of £27 a week for 39 weeks; and

• some people who are neither employed nor self-employed and are not eligible for MA for 39 weeks but who work unpaid in their partner’s business may qualify for MA at 14 weeks, again at a lower flat rate of £27 per week.

The website Working Families has useful information about claiming Maternity Allowance.