Maternity allowance

[FunBee]

I was thinking of leaving my job but I am 5 weeks pregnant. I am part time. I don’t want to get another job as pregnant. I would like to know whether I would get maternity allowance and how much it would be. Online it says it’s calculated by national insurance , but I want to know exactly how much I would be entitled to if that is possible can someone give me an estimate

If you’re eligible you’d get £184.03 a week for up to 39 weeks.

It depends how long you've been working for. You need to have been working for 26 weeks in the 66 weeks leading up to the baby's due date and earning £30+ per week in at least 13 of those weeks.

It's £184.03 per week or 90% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is LESS.

Maternity allowance also impacts universal credit, it's reduced pound for pound so something to think about if you're planning to leave work and claim UC.

Thanks for the info . So if I quit my job at 5 weeks pregnant I would be entitled to 90% of my earnings?

Not necessarily OP. It's whichever is less. You can only receive the maximum of £184 on MA, not more.

Also, you have 35 weeks left of pregnancy. So make sure you were working or earning enough in the previous 31 weeks, or else you won't qualify. You need pay stubs for the whole period to prove it. You'll need to submit an application to the job centre

How much are your earnings? £184.03 is the highest amount you would get.

You also need to bear in mind that you can’t apply for maternity allowance until you’re 26 weeks pregnant, so you’d have no income until then.

The best scenario for you would be to stay in your job until eligible for statutory maternity pay and then only quit at the end of maternity leave. You will be protected legally. You don't need to pay government statutory maternity pay back (only any extra pay if your company is good enough to offer that, but obviously many don't).

What will you do for the next few months while pregnant if you don't have a job? Many (most?) pregnant women work without issues...

Firstly you need to have been employed for 26weeks of the 66 weeks prior to falling pregnant.
And earned £30 or more in 13 weeks of the weeks.

If you do qualify you will be paid £184.03 a week for 39 weeks if your average weekly earnings are over £204.5 a week. If you earn less than £204.50 a week your mat pay will be 90% of your weekly earnings for example if you earn £185 a week your mat pay will be £166.50 a week.

If you are on other benefits mat pay may change the amount of benefits you are paid. If you are currently on UC and this goes up if you leave work then Mat Allowance payment amount will be deducted from your new UC payment, because it is classed as earnings.

The maximum you will be paid is £184.03 per week and it is paid fortnightly or every 4 weeks.

You are unlikely to be taxed on mat allowance but that depends on how much you have earned this tax year.

SMP is similar but other rules are involved.

And as others have pointed out you will have to wait for 6 mnths until you can claim. If you go onto benefits now it will not be paid as well as but instead of part of your benefits.

I am self employed so was entitled to mat allowance. I don’t remember it being complicated to apply for but that was a few years ago.

I am not enjoying my job but don’t want to apply for a new job whilst pregnant. I earn around £1000 a month. I am just wondering what the difference is between statutory maternity and maternity allowance?

Statutory maternity you’d get 90% earnings then down to £184.03 a week. Maternity allowance you wouldn’t get the 90% part but do get £184.03 a week.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/maternity-and-parental-rights/check-your-maternity-and-parental-rights/maternity-leave-and-pay/maternity-pay-what-youre-entitled-to/

But that’s from 6 months pregnant, you’d get nothing until then.

I understand that. I just want to know if I would get anything when baby is here. Thanks for the reply.

How much in total was your maternity allowance (if being paid max of 184£ weekly)?
I was paid 736£ in a 4 weekly way and in 9 instalments which doesn’t add up to total. :9x736£
in other words i was 550£ paid less?
what to do about this? who to contact?

If you are employed and meet the criteria then you would get SMP. Some people and self employed people, do not get SMP so apply for MA.