Anyone have any knowledge of maternity allowance?

[Esssss]

I'm a freelancer at my job but only work for one employer and they sort out my tax (PAYE I think). I'm due in January but have only been back at work since my first child since January and I'm trying to work out if I qualify for maternity allowance. I've been looking at the gov website but my frazzled brain isn't computing it at all. Do I need to have worked 26 weeks by 15 weeks before my due date? Or is it 13 weeks (it mentions 13 test weeks) I know I should probably just speak to my hr about it but I haven't really told anyone at work yet so want to be armed with facts if possible! Any help or guidance would be great. Thanks!!

You need to have been employed for 26 weeks (6 months) in a year and a quarter before the baby is due. Out of those 6 months you should have been earning at least £30 a week for 3 months.

So if you're due in January, you must have worked for 6 months between October last year and when you are due.

I hope this makes sense...

If you fill in the form you will get a letter saying if you are eligible: no need to fry your Brain working it out! Send it off as soon as you get your MatB1 form from the MW @ around 25 weeks. The letter took about 3 weeks to come back to me. You then complete a form which comes with the letter and post it back once the baby arrives.

If you are PAYE, would you not qualify for SMP? Even if you are hourly/daily paid, you can still be an employee and get SMP.

Don't look at the website, it will continue to fry your brain!!!! The actual form they send you in the post is far, far simpler!!! Call them and ask for one.
I am currently completing mine, not for self employment but because I didn't earn enough to get smp.

you can down load the form here then either print and fill it and post it, or you can fill it out on your computer, then print sign and send. It's fairly straight forward apart from the "test weeks" thing.

Thank you all, I have asked hr whether I am considered a worker or a freelancer and they are adamant I am freelance so that's what has confused me. Glad the form is simpler, think I'll just fill it out and see what happens!! I had worked out that I've worked 23 weeks since returning to work so I had thought I needed to get 3 more by 15 weeks before my due date but you make it sounds easier than I thought. Stressing out about not qualifying for anything!!!