Anyone know anything about Maternity Allowance? (MA)

[DomesticG0ddess]

I have a specific question, which I am sure I can speak to someone official about - if I can get hold of anyone to speak to, that is.

MA is based on your choice of 13 weeks earnings during a 66 week test period, and you have to be self employed/employed for 26 of those week. I have now been self employed for about 26 weeks, and I don't really plan on earning anymore money. However, I only earned money for 7 of those week (I work freelance and v part time, around DS). I am happy with the amount of MA I will get from these 7 weeks, divided by 13. But what I need to know, is does it matter if I earned nothing for the other 6 weeks of the 13 week period?

Hope this makes sense. Thanks.

I am self-employed and currently receiving maternity allowance. When applying you do not have to show how much you have earned, it is sufficient for you to have paid 26 weeks of class 2 national insurance. If eligible you will receive 124 pounds each week (regardless of how much you earned) and this is also tax free. See the directgov website for further information

I think it is different depending on whether you are employed or self-employed. I was employed and had to send off 13 weeks of payslips, but if you're self-employed they just look at your NI contributions.

Thanks. kj75, I pay Class 2 contributions, but I don't earn as much on average as that would then pay me. I therefore figured this could not be right and that I would have some problem when I completed my tax return!

No, it really is that simple! I've just come to the end of receiving MA as a self employed person and I checked and double checked just like you are

Well, that's great! I was employed until last summer which would have bumped up my figures, but when I had a miscarriage and then got pg again the 66 week period didn't include my regular employment so I thought I would get far far less. Thanks!