Maternity Allowance (MA) 





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 £148.68 (2019-20), or 90% of average weekly wages if less;




• some self-employed who have not paid enough Class 2 National Insurance to qualify for the full rate of MA (£148.68 a week) 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 information about claiming Maternity Allowance. 


https://www.workingfamilies.org.uk/articles/maternity-allowance