Maternity Allowance due to self employment

[RainbowFlowers]

I've applied for maternity allowance due to being self employed. I got a letter yesterday to say I am only entitled to the lower rate as I haven't paid enough NI contributions.

Am I right in thinking this is just because it's not the end of the tax year? So basically I've not paid any NI contributions for the period they go off.

I'm up to date with my accounts so I am planning on submitting my self assessment as soon as I can at the beginning of April (I've never been so organised! I usually leave it until December!)

Surely this would be the case for all self employed people. Anyway it says I should wait for a letter that will invite me to pay the extra NI contributions withing 10 days. My question is....will this delay me getting maternity allowance?

I want my first payment to be at the beginning of May.

Thank you!

I would make the contribution when you get the letter if that is going to be before the self assessment you will do. Maternity Allowance was taking quite a few weeks recently due to a backlog

I would just pay as soon as you get the letter. I had no delays when claiming as SE, but MA seems to have been hit with delays in general since I gave birth a year ago.

It actually turned out I had paid enough, they just needed to talk to HMRC, so it's worth ringing them. I called them because my letter never appeared and it wasn't ever sent because it wasn't needed (but they didn't bother sending me a letter updating me, just the original one that said to wait for the letter). They were helpful on the phone.

Oh yes I intend on paying as soon as I can. I feel on edge waiting 10 days for this letter to arrive as I'd like to get it over and done with. The letter specifically says dont call before the 10 days is up. But maybe I'll give it a go anyway to see if I can pay now.

I think there's a reference or something on the letter you need to use

You may be able to get the full rate by making early National Insurance payments. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will send you a letter to tell you how.

You’ll need to pay using the reference number in the letter to get the full rate, even if you’ve recently made a payment through Self Assessment

I have had this recently and I got the letter within 10 days and have paid the contribution. You then have to wait 22 days for the review so I am now waiting on that.

You should get the letter and it has a payment slip on it that you have to use to pay at the bank so I would recommend waiting .

Thanks dementedpixie that's helpful! I'll hold tight then. At least it means I don't have to listen to that awful.hold music!!

@fatisnotafeeling what sort of figure did you have to pay?

@RainbowFlowers it was £39 in total so not too bad.