Maternity Allowance
How to claim
You can apply for Maternity Allowance once you鈥檝e been pregnant for 26 weeks.聽
Payments can start any time between the 11th week before your baby is due and the day after the baby is born.
To get the full amount that you鈥檙e entitled to, claim within 3 months of your Maternity Allowance start date.
To claim, you鈥檒l need a Maternity Allowance (MA1) claim form. You can either:
- print it and fill it in
- fill it in online and print it
- if you cannot print it
The form has notes to help you fill it in.
You鈥檒l need to give information about your employment in the 66 weeks before your baby is due (called the 鈥楾est Period鈥�). You can use the to work out these dates.
Send your claim to the address on the form.
Call Jobcentre Plus to ask for alternative formats of the form, such as braille, large print or audio CD.
What to send with your claim form
You need to include other documents when you send in your claim form.
Proof of income
You need to provide original payslips as proof of income.
Proof of a due date and birth
You need to provide proof of your baby鈥檚 due date, even if the baby has already been born. This could be:
- a letter from your doctor or midwife on headed paper
- your MATB1 certificate 鈥� this must be an original version and not a photocopy
If your baby has already been born, you also need to provide proof of that. This could be:
- a letter from your doctor or midwife on headed paper 鈥� this can be the same letter as the one proving the due date
- your baby鈥檚 birth certificate 鈥� this must be an original version and not a photocopy
- your MATB1 certificate, if the section about the actual date of birth has been filled in by a doctor or midwife 鈥� this must be an original version and not a photocopy
Additional information
You may also need to provide:
- your SMP1 form, if you were refused Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) by your employer
- more information about your partner鈥檚 self-employed business and the unpaid work you do for them, if you鈥檙e applying for Maternity Allowance for up to 14 weeks
When you鈥檒l hear about your claim
You should get a decision on your claim within 20 working days.
If you鈥檙e eligible, a form will be sent to you confirming your entitlement and asking you to confirm your last day of employment before leave.
If you disagree with a decision
You can challenge a decision about your claim. This is called asking for mandatory reconsideration.