Who can get it?

There are two different types of MA available:

MA for 39 weeks:

• if you have been working for your employer for less than 26 weeks but you meet all the other qualifications for SMP, and you have worked for at least 26 weeks in total (with different employers) in the 66 weeks prior to the week when your baby is due, you will get standard rate MA. This is identical to the standard rate of SMP – £139.58 a week or 90% of your average earnings, whichever is the lower;

• if your earnings are too low for you to get SMP but you fulfil all the other qualifying conditions, and you have earnings of at least £30.00 a week on average (even from different jobs), you will then receive MA at 90% of your average earnings;

• if you are self-employed, your earnings will be assessed as equal to £112.00 a week for any week when you paid Class 2 National Insurance contributions. If, for any period, you are exempt from paying National Insurance and hold an exemption certificate for that period, you will be treated as earning £30.00 a week.

MA for 14 weeks:

You may be able to claim MA for 14 weeks if for at least 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before your baby is due the following apply:

• you are married or in a civil partnership;

• you are not employed or self-employed;

• you take part in the business of your self-employed spouse or civil partner;

• the work you do is for the business and unpaid;

• your spouse or civil partner is registered as self-employed with HMRC and should pay Class 2 National Insurance;

• your spouse or civil partner is working as self-employed person; and

• you are not eligible for Statutory Maternity Pay or the higher amount of Maternity Allowance (for the same pregnancy).

At the time this booklet was going to press the weekly rate was £27.00.