United Kingdom Maternity Allowance 2026-27
Maternity Allowance is a benefit for people who cannot get Statutory Maternity Pay. The maximum weekly rate is the same as SMP, and self-employed applicants may receive a lower rate depending on their National Insurance record.
On this page
- Maximum weekly rate
- £194.32 or 90% of average weekly earnings, whichever is lower.
- Payment period
- Up to 39 weeks.
- Self-employed minimum
- £27 per week for 39 weeks if no Class 2 National Insurance contributions.
- Self-employed maximum
- Up to £194.32 per week for 39 weeks, depending on contributions.
The weekly rate for employed applicants
GOV.UK states that an employed person gets £194.32 a week or 90% of average weekly earnings, whichever is lower, for up to 39 weeks. GOV.UK, Maternity Allowance (opens in a new tab).
How payments work
Maternity Allowance is paid every 2 or 4 weeks, into a bank, building society or credit union account. GOV.UK, Maternity Allowance (opens in a new tab).
Self-employed rates
A self-employed person can get between £27 and £194.32 a week depending on how many Class 2 National Insurance contributions have been paid in the 66 weeks before the baby is due. GOV.UK, Maternity Allowance (opens in a new tab).
To qualify for the maximum self-employed rate, the person must have been registered with HMRC for at least 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before the baby is due and paid Class 2 National Insurance for at least 13 of those weeks. GOV.UK, Maternity Allowance (opens in a new tab).
Someone who has paid no Class 2 National Insurance contributions is entitled to £27 per week. Class 2 contributions are £3.65 per week. GOV.UK, Maternity Allowance (opens in a new tab).
Eligibility
GOV.UK states that an employed applicant must have been employed for at least 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before the baby is due and earned £30 a week or more in at least 13 of those weeks. Self-employed applicants must have been registered as self-employed for at least 26 weeks in the same period. GOV.UK, Maternity Allowance eligibility (opens in a new tab).
Scope
This is general information adapted from government material under the Open Government Licence v3.0, without endorsement or a recommendation. It does not assess individual entitlement or liability. No matching calculator or worked example is available here.