Glossary · UK
What is Maternity Allowance?
A weekly payment for pregnant women who do not qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay, such as the self-employed or those with insufficient employment history.
Full Definition
Maternity Allowance is a benefit paid to pregnant women and new mothers who do not qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) from an employer -- commonly because they are self-employed, have recently changed jobs, or have not worked continuously or earned enough with one employer to meet SMP's qualifying conditions. To qualify, a claimant generally needs to have been employed or self-employed for at least 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before the baby is due, and to have average weekly earnings of at least a set minimum over any 13 of those weeks. Maternity Allowance is paid for up to 39 weeks at either 90% of average weekly earnings or the standard statutory weekly rate, whichever is lower -- the same standard weekly rate that applies to Statutory Maternity Pay after its first six weeks. Unlike Statutory Maternity Pay, Maternity Allowance is paid directly by the Department for Work and Pensions rather than through an employer's payroll, and self-employed claimants can also qualify for an extra amount if their partner takes time off work to support them around the birth, under the separate Maternity Allowance partner involvement rules.