Maternity, paternity and adoption payments
If you're working and have a baby, whether you work full or part time, you have the right to receive Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) as long as you meet certain conditions.
The maternity pay benefits you might get will vary depending on your circumstances. Usually you will claim either:
- statutory or contractual maternity pay from your employer
- or Maternity Allowance through Jobcentre Plus
When your wife, partner or civil partner gives birth or adopts a child, you may be able to get Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) money that's paid by your employer to help you take time off work.
Statutory Adoption Pay is a weekly payment you get from your employer to help take time off work when you adopt a child.
Maternity Allowance
Maternity Allowance (MA) may be available to help you through your pregnancy if you are not entitled to Statutory Maternity Pay from an employer.
You should claim as soon as you can after you have been pregnant for 26 weeks. If you delay, you may lose benefit. There are a number of conditions that you need to meet in order to claim maternity benefit:
- If your expected Week of Childbirth is on or before 31 March 2007, MA can be paid for up to 26 weeks
- If your expected Week of Childbirth is on or after 1 April 2007, MA can be paid for up to 39 weeks
What are the benefit rates?
Standard rate: £112.75 or 90% of your average gross weekly earnings if this is less than £112.75.
Maternity Allowance Threshold (MAT): £30.00.
What do I need to do next?
To make sure you do not miss out on any benefit due to you, you should contact your local Jobcentre Plus or our Benefits Maximisation Service to find out if you need to fill in this form.
For more detailed information see leaflet NI 17A - A Guide to Maternity Benefits available on the Department for Work and Pensions website.
Contact Jobcentre Plus for a claim form or you can download a Maternity Allowance claim form in PDF format.
The form comes with notes that will help you fill in the form and tell you where to send the completed form.
For an easy way to find out which benefits might apply to you and your circumstances go to What can I claim?
The Benefits Maximisation Service can provide personal advice on what you may be entitled to and help you make a claim. For more information go to Benefits Maximisation Service.
Disclaimer
Although every effort is made to ensure the information on these pages is accurate and up to date, it should not be treated as a complete and authoritative statement of the law.