Oh and I am self employed and will be claiming maternity allowance, as long as you have been paying your class 2 NI contributions you are entitled to claim.
The direct gov website says this:
If you are self-employed and do not have a small earnings exception certificate, for any week covered by a Class 2 NI contribution you will be treated as having enough earnings to result in the standard rate of MA, payable at the end of the week covered by a Class 2 NI contribution. This means that:
From 9 April 2007 treated as earning £125.28
From 7 April 2008 treated as earning £130.20
From 6 April 2009 treated as earning £136.73
Jobcentre Plus will ask HM Revenue & Customs to confirm the information you give about your Class 2 NI contributions on your MA claim form.
You can claim MA when you reach the 14th week before the week in which your baby is due (the 27th week of pregnancy). Ask Jobcentre Plus for a MA Claim pack
You must provide Jobcentre Plus with medical evidence of the date your baby is due. Your doctor or midwife will give you a maternity certificate (form MATB1) after you reach the 20th week before the week in which your baby is due (the 21st week of pregnancy). It cannot be given to you any sooner. Your midwife will usually give you this at your next ante-natal appointment from the 21st week of your pregnancy.
If you are self-employed proof of earnings are not required to establish the rate of MA. However, on receipt of your MA1 claim form Jobcentre Plus will check with HM Revenue & Customs to see if you have been registered as self-employed and/or whether Class 2 NI contributions have been paid or if a small earnings exception certficate is in place.
Hope that helps anyone who is self employed, the advice does differ if you are also employed directly or will have been for any time during your pregnancy!