Self employed & pregnant... Am I entitled to Maternity allowance?

[NewYorkDeli]

Hi,

Any advice greatly appreciated. Unexpectedly pregnant by my ex (Father of my 4 year old, he doesn't want to reconcile now but that's another thread)

I'm self employed, have been for the last 3 years. I don't hold a small earnings exemption certificate, I just pay my NI even though I only earned 4,200 profit last year.

My DD starts school in September and I can finally work some more hours, I would make an educated guess that I will earn about 6,500 profit.

Am I entitled to MA? (only a couple of months gone so haven't applied or looked into yet) Any idea if I will be entitled to the full amount of 138 a week because i'm up to date with my NI?

I read somewhere that you only earn 90% of your earnings. My customers pay me in cash and I have a receipt book, but I don't put it through the bank as I don't earn much, it's pointless. I pay my bills in cash at the post office. Will they want me to prove how much i've earned via bank statements?

Sorry for all the questions, just scared and nervous at how i'll cope financially, could really do with the full amount for the 9 months i'm not working.

Thanks in advance.

For MA, they don't ask how much you earn. All they are interested in is whether you have paid NI for a sufficient number of weeks, which it sounds like you have.

From the offical guidance:
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.

The 90% of earnings thing applies to those who are employed, but not entitled to SMP (e.g. because they changed employer while pregnant).

That should be 'for the self-employed'. Not 'for MA'. Sorry.

If you haven't paid NI for long enough, you can back-date payments. If you call them, they will tell you the date you need to have been paying from. Give them a call - self employment office is really helpful. Nothing like tax credits where they treat every question as suspicious!

Thanks guys.

I rang the MA helpline, the lady said they base it on your NI contributions, nothing to do with your earnings. I'm up to date with NI so will get full entitlement. A huge relief!