Maternity Allowance and self-employed

[Enraha]

Is anyone clued up on how this works? I'm self-employed/freelance, but for one reason or another have done very little money-earning stuff in the last 6 months. I'm pregnant but have a good 6 months to go.

Is there an earnings threshold for me to qualify for Maternity Allowance payment? Ideally, would like to take at least 6 months off, plus maybe 1 month prior to birth next year. I don't qualify for other benefits.

I think if you are registered as SE they assume that you earn over the threshhold. I certainly don't remember having to prove earnings.

ok, sounds promising. Who do I deal with on this - HMRC? Last PG was all sorted through work, so I haven't got a clue what the process will be this time round.

here

You just need to have been paying your Class 2 NI contributions for 6 months (so you need to NOT have claimed the small earnings exemption) and you should get £128.73 a week for up to 39 weeks.

and I paid mine in a single cheque
then again I only got 14 weeks money as it was years ago

Looks like I'm in the clear then, I'm fully paid up on NI for last 12 months. Thank you. Although the DirectGov form looks like the usual bore and a half.