I havent paid my NI contributions for ages - will I be able to get maternity allowance?

[PeckaRolloverAgain]

I am 15 weeks pregnant and wondering about maternity allowance.

Can you pay your NI contributions backdated?

You only get maternity alliance if you are employed at the time of getting pregnant iirc. They work out how much you are entitled to based on your average earnings in the last 12 months and you get it if you are not entitled to maternity pay in your current job. hth

I thought you could get it as self employed?

If you are self employed why haven't you been paying your NI contributions?

YES you can. I did just that!
I was 14 weeks pregnant and hadnt paid enough NI so i rang the number on the contributions bill they send me and asked them to send me a bill for 26 weeks ARREARS!!!! i paid £68 in total and got full MA. Without paying 26 weeks MI i was only entitled to £36 per week but got £108 per week!!!! Dont say you are pregnant just say you want to pay contributions and could they back date it for you!!!

Childminders can opt out of NI contributions if they earn under a certain amount. You can pay £2.10 per week voluntarily but dont have too!

So how do you get the 108? is that just if your earnings are more than that?

Because if you are earning less than that do they just give you 90% of your income?

BRILLIANT

I wont tell them I am pregnant yet, I will ring up and pay my backdated amounts and then claim when I am 26 weeks! Excellent, excellent, excellent!

Thankyou!

Maternity allowance is just a straightforward weekly payment which isn't related to what you actually earn. It's what you get if you are self-employed or unemployed and don't get a regular weekly/monthly wage or salary.

this should help

What are the benefit rates?

Standard rate: £112.75 or 90% of your average gross weekly earnings if this is less than £112.75.

This says that if you earn less than 112.75 you get 90% of whatever that is?

i am going to hijack here so sorry but WORDSMITH fancy coming on a meet up? thread is here or email me on tobys_mummy at btinternet dot come

let me know anyway if you are interested.

com

Ok.......

I have called the number on my last bill and asked to pay backdated to January 07 (which would be 26 weeks)

They said they are going to send me out application forms?

Is that right?

yes they will send you out a bill for 26 weeks @ £2.10p per week.

Hopefully, he didnt sound like it was a bill they were sending but an application form?

Anyway, we'll see. Thanks bonkerz for your help , I SO hope that I get it it will make life SO much easier!!