I live in Northern Ireland — do I claim Maternity Allowance on GOV.UK?

No. Maternity Allowance in Northern Ireland is delivered by the Department for Communities, not the DWP. nidirect states that its Maternity Allowance information is for people in Northern Ireland and that people in England, Scotland or Wales should use GOV.UK. Use the Northern Ireland MA1 form and contacts on nidirect, or your local Jobs and Benefits office, and check the current Northern Ireland amounts there.

Who qualifies for Maternity Allowance?

Maternity Allowance is for people who can't get Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) from an employer. You may qualify if you're employed but don't qualify for SMP, you're self-employed, you've recently stopped working, or you do unpaid work for your spouse's or civil partner's business. You generally need to have been employed or self-employed for at least 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before your baby is due, and earning at least £30 a week on average over any 13 of those weeks.

What's the difference between Maternity Allowance and Statutory Maternity Pay?

Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is paid by your employer if you qualify (you need to have worked for them long enough and earn above a threshold). Maternity Allowance is paid by the DWP and is for people who can't get SMP — for example the self-employed, those who changed jobs recently, or those who don't earn enough for SMP with one employer. You can't get both for the same pregnancy. If you qualify for SMP, you'll usually get that instead.

How do I claim Maternity Allowance?

Claim using form MA1, which you can download or fill in online through GOV.UK. You can claim once you've been pregnant for 26 weeks, and payments can start 11 weeks before your baby is due. You'll need proof of your income (such as payslips), proof of the baby's due date (a MATB1 certificate from your midwife or doctor), and your employment details. Claim as soon as you can, because it can only be backdated a limited amount.

Maternity Allowance 2026/27 — £194.32 a week if you can't get Maternity Pay

Q: How much is Maternity Allowance?

If you're employed or have recently stopped working, Maternity Allowance is £194.32 a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is less, for up to 39 weeks. If you're self-employed you can get between £27 and £194.32 a week for up to 39 weeks, depending on how many Class 2 National Insurance contributions you've made. If you do unpaid work for your spouse's or civil partner's business you can get £27 a week for up to 14 weeks.

Q: Does Maternity Allowance affect my other benefits?

It can. Maternity Allowance counts as income for some means-tested benefits. If you get Universal Credit, your UC payment is reduced by an amount equal to your Maternity Allowance. It can also affect Housing Benefit, Income Support, ESA and Council Tax Reduction, and Jobseeker's Allowance stops if you get Maternity Allowance. However, your total income usually stays the same or goes up. Unlike SMP, Maternity Allowance is tax-free.

How much you'll get

If you're employed or recently stopped working

£194.32 a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings (whichever is less), for up to 39 weeks. If you take the full 52 weeks of maternity leave, the last 13 weeks are unpaid.

If you're self-employed

Between £27 and £194.32 a week for up to 39 weeks, depending on the Class 2 National Insurance contributions you've made in the 66 weeks before your baby is due. To get the maximum you need at least 13 weeks of Class 2 NI paid; you can top up contributions after you apply to increase the amount (Class 2 NI is £3.65 a week).

If you help your spouse's business

£27 a week for up to 14 weeks if you do unpaid work for the business of your spouse or civil partner.

It's tax-freeUnlike Statutory Maternity Pay, Maternity Allowance is not taxed and no National Insurance comes off it — and you get Class 1 NI credits while you receive it, protecting your State Pension.

Get your Maternity Allowance claim ready

Sorted gathers your details and a what-to-have-ready checklist, then links you straight to the official MA1 claim.

Prepare & submit →

Who qualifies

Maternity Allowance is for people who can't get Statutory Maternity Pay from an employer. You may qualify if you:

Are self-employed.
Are employed but don't qualify for SMP (for example you changed jobs or don't earn enough with one employer).
Have recently stopped working.
Do unpaid work for your spouse's or civil partner's business.

You generally need to have been employed or self-employed for at least 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before your baby is due, earning at least £30 a week on average over any 13 of those weeks.

Maternity Allowance vs Statutory Maternity Pay

You can't get both for the same pregnancy. The simple rule:

Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) — paid by your employer if you've worked for them long enough and earn above the threshold. Usually higher in the first 6 weeks (90% of pay).
Maternity Allowance — paid by the DWP for those who can't get SMP, including the self-employed.

If you qualify for SMP, you'll normally get that instead. If your employer says you don't qualify for SMP, they should give you form SMP1 — use it to claim Maternity Allowance.

Effect on other benefits

Maternity Allowance counts as income for some means-tested benefits:

Universal Credit is reduced by an amount equal to your Maternity Allowance.
It can affect Housing Benefit, Income Support, ESA and Council Tax Reduction.
Jobseeker's Allowance stops if you get Maternity Allowance.

Even so, your total income usually stays the same or goes up. A free benefits calculator (Turn2us) will show your exact position.

How to claim

Read this first if you live in Northern IrelandMaternity Allowance in Northern Ireland is run by the Department for Communities, not the DWP — nidirect says plainly: “This information is for people in Northern Ireland. If you live in England, Scotland or Wales, visit GOV.UK.” So use the Northern Ireland MA1 form and address, not the GOV.UK claim below: see nidirect — Maternity Allowance, or contact your local Jobs & Benefits office. The 39-week/14-week structure and the 26-weeks-in-66 test work the same way; check the current Northern Ireland amounts on nidirect rather than assuming the GB figures on this page. Free help: Advice NI or Citizens Advice.

Claim it now — free

Claim via GOV.UK (form MA1) → 📞 Call 0800 169 0283

Have ready: proof of income (payslips), your MATB1 certificate from your midwife or doctor, your employment details — and the SMP1 form if your employer refused SMP.

Claim using form MA1 (download or complete via GOV.UK). You can claim once you've been pregnant 26 weeks; payments can start 11 weeks before the due date.
You'll need proof of income (payslips), your MATB1 certificate (from your midwife or doctor) confirming the due date, and your employment details.
If your employer refused SMP, include the SMP1 form they gave you.
Claim promptly — backdating is limited, so don't leave it late.

Self-employed? Check your NI firstYour Maternity Allowance amount depends on your Class 2 National Insurance record. If you've paid little or no Class 2 NI, you may start on £27/week — but HMRC will tell you how much to top up to reach the full £194.32, and your payments are then increased and backdated. It's worth doing.

Free UK support

GOV.UK Maternity Allowance — rates, eligibility + the MA1 claim form.
Maternity Allowance helpline (Jobcentre Plus) — 0800 169 0283.
Citizens Advice — 0800 144 8848. Free help claiming + a benefits check.
Maternity Action — specialist UK advice on maternity rights and pay.

Source verification Primary source: GOV.UK Maternity Allowance — What you'll get + Eligibility + How to claim · gov.uk/maternity-allowance. Devolved route verified against nidirect — Maternity Allowance (nidirect.gov.uk/articles/maternity-allowance), 13 July 2026. Last verified 13 July 2026. Confidence: High — £194.32/wk, 39 weeks, £27 self-employed minimum, £3.65 Class 2 NI read from GOV.UK. Key rule: for those who can't get Statutory Maternity Pay; can't claim both. Scope: the figures and claim route here are for Great Britain. Northern Ireland runs its own Maternity Allowance through the Department for Communities — its own MA1 form and contacts are on nidirect, and the NI amounts should be checked there. Rates reviewed each April.

Maternity Allowance — common questions

How much is Maternity Allowance?

Up to £194.32 a week (or 90% of average weekly earnings if lower) for up to 39 weeks if employed or recently stopped working. Self-employed: £27–£194.32 a week depending on Class 2 NI. £27 a week for up to 14 weeks if you do unpaid work for a spouse's business. It's tax-free.

Who qualifies?

People who can't get Statutory Maternity Pay — the self-employed, those who don't qualify for SMP with an employer, those who recently stopped working, or those doing unpaid work for a spouse's business. You generally need 26 weeks of work in the 66 weeks before the due date, earning at least £30/week over any 13 weeks.

Maternity Allowance or Statutory Maternity Pay?

SMP is paid by your employer if you qualify; Maternity Allowance is paid by the DWP for those who can't get SMP. You can't get both. If your employer refuses SMP, they give you form SMP1 to claim Maternity Allowance.

Does it affect other benefits?

Yes — it counts as income. Universal Credit is reduced pound-for-pound, and it can affect Housing Benefit, Income Support, ESA and Council Tax Reduction; JSA stops. But your total income usually stays the same or rises, and Maternity Allowance itself is tax-free.

How do I claim?

Use form MA1 via GOV.UK once you're 26 weeks pregnant (payments can start 11 weeks before the due date). You'll need payslips, your MATB1 certificate, and the SMP1 form if your employer refused SMP. Claim promptly as backdating is limited. In Northern Ireland, use the Northern Ireland MA1 form and contacts on nidirect instead — it's run by the Department for Communities, not the DWP.

Sources: Maternity Allowance · GOV.UK (What you'll get — £194.32/wk or 90% AWE, 39 weeks; self-employed £27–£194.32; £27/14 weeks for unpaid work; Class 2 NI £3.65/wk). Eligibility + How to claim (MA1) · GOV.UK. Free help: Maternity Allowance helpline 0800 169 0283 · Citizens Advice 0800 144 8848 · Maternity Action. Rates reviewed each April. Last reviewed: 26 June 2026. SortedUK is independent — not a government service.

Maternity Allowance — pay when you can't get Maternity Pay.