Apply for Maternity Allowance

Maternity Allowance is a benefit for working pregnant women who are unable to get Statutory Maternity Pay.

How to use this service

Maternity Allowance is paid for up to 39 weeks and is not subject to tax and National Insurance. It is not paid while you are working.

Download a form

Help for expectant Mothers:

• Maternity Benefit Form MA1 (PDF 146KB)
• Maternity Allowance notes (PDF 130KB)
• Maternity Allowance Test Period table from 2011 to 2013 (PDF 92KB)
• Help with PDF files
  

You make a claim by printing out a claim form and filling it in. When you have filled in the form you can either:

• post it to the office whose details are shown on the form, or
• hand it in at your nearest Social Security / Jobs and Benefits office
• Social Security / Jobs and Benefits office (contacts section)

Important: The date the claim form is received in a Social Security Agency office is the date we can consider payment from - not the date you downloaded the claim form.

Ask for a form

You can get Maternity Allowance forms from the Social Security Agency.  Contact one of their offices.

• Incapacity Benefits Branch (contacts section)
• Social Security / Jobs and Benefits office (contacts section)
• Benefit Shop Castle Court (contacts section)

More useful links

• Maternity Allowance (money, tax and benefits section)