Weekly rates, who qualifies, the Test Period and how to claim
Maternity Allowance rates 2026/27
Your situation
Weekly amount
Maximum weeks
Employed or recently stopped working
£194.32 or 90% of average weekly earnings (whichever is less)
39
Self-employed
£27 to £194.32, depending on Class 2 contributions
39
Unpaid work for a spouse or civil partner's business
£27
14
Maternity Allowance is paid every 2 or 4 weeks, directly into your bank account. Rates as checked against GOV.UK on 20 October 2026.
The 90% rule
If you are employed or have recently stopped working, you get £194.32 a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is less. So the £194.32 figure is a ceiling: if 90% of your average weekly earnings comes to less than £194.32, that lower figure is what you are paid.
Who qualifies
Employed for at least 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before the baby is due, earning (or classed as earning) £30 a week or more in at least 13 of those weeks. The weeks do not have to be together, and you may still qualify if you have recently stopped working, whether or not you had different jobs or gaps.
Registered as self-employed for at least 26 weeks in the same 66 weeks.
For the 14-week rate: unpaid work in your spouse or civil partner's business for at least 26 weeks in the 66, without being employed or self-employed yourself. In the same 26 weeks your spouse or civil partner must be registered as self-employed with HMRC and paying Class 2 National Insurance.
If the baby is stillborn from the start of the 24th week of pregnancy, or born alive at any point during the pregnancy, you may still qualify.
Self-employed: how Class 2 contributions set the amount
The amount depends on how many Class 2 National Insurance contributions you made in the 66 weeks before the baby is due. To get the maximum you must have been registered with HMRC for at least 26 of those weeks and paid Class 2 for at least 13 of them. With fewer than 13 weeks paid, the amount is calculated from the weeks you have; with none, it is £27 a week. You may get £27 for a few weeks while your contributions are linked to the application, and the payments are increased and backdated if necessary. After you apply, HMRC tells you if you need additional contributions to reach the maximum.
How to claim
When: you can apply once you have been pregnant for 26 weeks. Payments can start any time between the 11th week before the baby is due and the day after the baby is born. Claim within 3 months of your start date to get the full amount you are entitled to.
Form: use the Maternity Allowance claim form, MA1, and give your employment details for the 66-week Test Period. Our MA1 form guide covers the Test Period and the documents.
Send with it: original payslips as proof of income and proof of the due date, such as a doctor or midwife letter or a MATB1 certificate. If your employer refused SMP, include the SMP1 form.
Decision: you should hear within 20 working days. You can ask for mandatory reconsideration if you disagree.
Maternity Allowance or Statutory Maternity Pay
Statutory Maternity Pay is paid by your employer through payroll. Maternity Allowance is paid by the DWP to people who cannot get SMP, including the self-employed. The two use the same £194.32 weekly figure and the same 90% earnings share. SMP pays 90% of average weekly earnings for the first 6 weeks with no cap, then the lower of £194.32 or 90% for 33 weeks, 39 in total. Maternity Allowance pays the lower of the two for all 39 weeks. The current SMP figures and who qualifies are on the Statutory Payment Rates page, and the Maternity Pay Calculator works out an SMP timeline.
Effect on other benefits
GOV.UK lists Universal Credit, bereavement benefits, Carer's Allowance, Carer Support Payment, Council Tax Reduction, Employment and Support Allowance, Housing Benefit and Jobseeker's Allowance as benefits that may change when you claim, and says your total benefit payments will usually either go up or stay the same. Universal Credit is reduced by an amount equal to your Maternity Allowance payment. Jobseeker's Allowance stops. The benefit cap can also apply.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Maternity Allowance in 2026/27?
If you are employed or have recently stopped working, £194.32 a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is less, for up to 39 weeks. If you are self-employed it is between £27 and £194.32 a week for up to 39 weeks, depending on your Class 2 National Insurance contributions. For unpaid work in a spouse or civil partner's business it is £27 a week for up to 14 weeks.
Who can get Maternity Allowance?
You could get it if you are employed but cannot get Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP), are self-employed, have recently stopped working, or take part in unpaid work for the business of your spouse or civil partner. You must have been employed or registered as self-employed for at least 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before the baby is due. If you were employed, you must have earned (or been classed as earning) £30 a week or more in at least 13 of those weeks, and the weeks do not have to be together.
What is the Test Period?
The 66 weeks before the week your baby is due. Form MA1 asks for your employment in that period, and GOV.UK has a Test Period calculator that gives the exact dates.
What is the 90% rule?
Maternity Allowance for an employed or recently employed claimant is capped at 90% of average weekly earnings, so anyone whose 90% figure is below £194.32 gets that lower amount. The £194.32 figure is the ceiling.
Can I get Maternity Allowance if I am self-employed?
Yes. Registered as self-employed for at least 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before the baby is due. The amount depends on Class 2 National Insurance contributions in those 66 weeks: for the maximum you need Class 2 contributions for at least 13 of them. With none, you are entitled to £27 a week, and you can top up contributions after you apply to increase it.
How do I claim?
Use the Maternity Allowance claim form MA1. You can apply once you have been pregnant for 26 weeks. Payments can start any time between the 11th week before the baby is due and the day after the baby is born. To get the full amount you are entitled to, claim within 3 months of your Maternity Allowance start date. You should get a decision within 20 working days.
Does Maternity Allowance affect other benefits?
It can. GOV.UK lists Universal Credit, bereavement benefits, Carer's Allowance, Carer Support Payment, Council Tax Reduction, Employment and Support Allowance, Housing Benefit and Jobseeker's Allowance as affected, and says your total benefit payments will usually either go up or stay the same. Universal Credit is reduced by an amount equal to your Maternity Allowance payment. Jobseeker's Allowance stops. The benefit cap may also apply.
What if I lose the baby?
You may still qualify if the baby is stillborn from the start of the 24th week of pregnancy, or born alive at any point during the pregnancy.
