How To Claim Maternity Allowance: Eligibility, MA1 Form And Payment Guide
Claiming Maternity Allowance starts with submitting a completed MA1 form, a MATB1 certificate and proof of income to the Department for Work and Pensions after 26 weeks of pregnancy. As of April 2026, the benefit pays up to £194.32 a week for 39 weeks.
Key Takeaways
- Maternity Allowance can be claimed from 26 weeks pregnant, with payments starting up to 11 weeks before the due date.
- From 6 April 2026, the rate is £194.32 a week, or 90% of average earnings if lower, for up to 39 weeks.
- The Department for Work and Pensions decides and pays every claim, not HM Revenue and Customs.
How to Claim Maternity Allowance
Maternity Allowance is claimed by completing form MA1 and posting it, with supporting evidence, to the Department for Work and Pensions once a pregnancy reaches 26 weeks. The process runs through six stages from eligibility to decision.
- Confirm eligibility from 26 weeks pregnant: GOV.UK’s Test Period calculator checks the exact earliest date for a specific due date.
- Gather proof of income and pregnancy: Payslips or self-employment earnings records, plus a MATB1 certificate from a doctor or midwife.
- Download the interactive MA1 form from GOV.UK, or order a paper copy by phone through Jobcentre Plus.
- Complete the form on a desktop or laptop computer, or by hand if it’s been printed, mobile devices aren’t supported.
- Post the completed form with all original documents to the address printed on the form itself.
- Wait for a decision, normally within 20 working days of the Department for Work and Pensions receiving it.
This guide covers the process in more detail, including what to do if a claim is late, evidence is missing or an application is refused.
Can You Claim Maternity Allowance Late, or After the Baby Is Born?
Yes to both. Claims made after the 26-week point can still succeed, since the Department for Work and Pensions allows backdating for up to three months from the date entitlement would have started.
A claim can also be made right up to the day after the baby arrives, and often well beyond that. What actually matters is the gap between the ideal start date and the date the form is physically sent, every week beyond the three-month backdating limit is pay that cannot be recovered later.
Claiming after birth changes one piece of paperwork. Instead of a MATB1 certificate confirming an expected due date, the claim needs the baby’s original birth certificate as proof the child has arrived.
Everything else on the MA1 form stays the same, including the Test Period calculation, which is still based on the original due date rather than the actual birth date.
What Documents Do You Need to Claim Maternity Allowance?
Gathering the right paperwork before starting the MA1 form avoids the most common cause of delay: applications being returned due to missing evidence. You must provide two categories of proof.
Proof of Your Income
- Original payslips covering the weeks used to calculate average earnings
- Form SMP1, if an employer has refused Statutory Maternity Pay and explained why in writing
- Self-employment earnings records, where Class 2 National Insurance contributions apply instead of payslips
Proof of Your Due Date and Birth
- A MATB1 certificate from a doctor or midwife, confirming the expected due date
- A signed letter on headed paper, accepted as an alternative to MATB1 in some circumstances
- The baby’s original birth certificate, required only if the claim is made after birth
Every document sent should be an original rather than a photocopy. The Department for Work and Pensions returns originals once a decision is made, but it is worth keeping your own copies for your records.
Can You Claim Maternity Allowance Online?
Not fully. GOV.UK’s own MA1 form cannot be completed on a phone or tablet. It has to be filled in on a desktop or laptop computer, or printed off and completed entirely by hand.
According to GOV.UK, the interactive PDF simply will not save correctly on mobile devices, which is also why a paper copy can be ordered by phone for anyone without printer access at home.
The form can be filled in on-screen using a PDF reader, which is often faster than handwriting your answers. However, it cannot be submitted electronically — every claim must be printed and posted.
What Happens After You Submit Your Claim?
The Department for Work and Pensions logs the claim upon receipt and usually issues a decision letter within 20 working days. This letter confirms the exact weekly rate awarded or explains why the claim was refused.
- The decision letter states the weekly rate, the start date, and the total number of weeks Maternity Allowance will run.
- The first payment is typically made within a further few days of that letter, direct into the bank account given on the MA1 form.
- Anyone who hasn’t heard anything after 20 working days can call Jobcentre Plus directly to check progress, quoting the date the form was posted.
Keeping the posting date noted somewhere makes that follow-up call considerably faster if it’s ever needed.
Is Maternity Allowance Paid by DWP or HMRC?
The Department for Work and Pensions, not HM Revenue and Customs, decides and pays every Maternity Allowance claim.
HMRC’s only involvement is confirming whether enough Class 2 National Insurance contributions have been paid by a self-employed claimant, it never issues the decision letter and never makes the actual payment.
While some guidance online incorrectly suggests HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) handles applications, the Department for Work and Pensions decides and pays every Maternity Allowance claim.
HMRC only checks Class 2 National Insurance contribution records for self-employed applicants at the DWP’s request.
Can You Claim Maternity Allowance If You’re Self-Employed?
Self-employed claimants qualify through Class 2 National Insurance contributions rather than through payslips, and the exact amount received depends directly on how many of those contributions have actually been paid during the Test Period.
If You’ve Paid Enough Class 2 NI
Anyone registered as self-employed for at least 26 weeks of the 66-week Test Period, with Class 2 contributions paid or treated as having been paid, receives the full flat rate regardless of how much they actually earned that year.
If You Haven’t
Fewer contributions paid means a reduced rate, calculated in proportion to the weeks actually covered. Paying any shortfall voluntarily before a decision is made can raise the final weekly amount considerably.
| Class 2 NI Position | Weekly Rate (2026/27) | Weeks Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Paid or treated as paid for 13+ weeks | £194.32 | 39 weeks |
| Paid for fewer than 13 weeks | Between £27 and £194.32, pro-rata | 39 weeks |
| No Class 2 NI paid at all | £27 | Up to 14 weeks |
Figures confirmed as of April 2026 via GOV.UK’s Maternity Allowance rates and allowances publication.
How Does Maternity Allowance Affect Other Benefits?
Receiving Maternity Allowance can affect your eligibility for other benefits.
- Jobseeker’s Allowance stops completely once Maternity Allowance begins, as the two cannot be claimed together. For a breakdown of what that payment is worth before it ends, see our guide to how much do you get on Jobseekers Allowance.
- Universal Credit is reduced pound for pound by the amount of Maternity Allowance received each assessment period.
- Employment and Support Allowance cannot be paid at the same time as Maternity Allowance under current rules.
- Tax Credits remain unaffected, since Maternity Allowance is specifically disregarded for that calculation.
Anyone already receiving Universal Credit should report the change as soon as a decision letter arrives, since payments are adjusted from that point rather than backdated automatically.
What Happens If Your Maternity Allowance Claim Is Refused?
A refusal isn’t the final word on a claim. Mandatory Reconsideration can be requested within one month of the date on the decision letter, usually by writing to the address shown on that same letter.
If the reconsideration still results in refusal, an appeal can be taken to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal within a further month of that second decision.
Keeping a copy of every document sent with the original claim makes this process considerably faster, since the same payslips, MATB1 certificate, and SMP1 form are often needed again during a reconsideration.
Conclusion
Claiming Maternity Allowance means acting from 26 weeks of pregnancy, gathering original proof of income and due date, and posting a completed MA1 form to the Department for Work and Pensions, since no fully online route exists.
Ultimately, claiming Maternity Allowance successfully means submitting the correct original paperwork to the DWP on time.
FAQs
How do I know if I’m eligible for Maternity Allowance?
Eligibility depends on working, or having recently worked, for at least 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before the baby’s due date, earning at least £30 a week on average across any 13 of those weeks. Self-employed claimants qualify through Class 2 National Insurance contributions instead.
How much money do I get for Maternity Allowance?
The standard rate from April 2026 is £194.32 a week, or 90% of average earnings if that’s lower, paid for up to 39 weeks. For a full breakdown by employment type, see how much Is Maternity Allowance.
Can I use a Maternity Allowance calculator to check my payment?
Yes, several free online calculators estimate the weekly amount based on earnings or Class 2 contributions entered manually. These tools are useful for planning only — the Department for Work and Pensions makes the final decision from the actual MA1 form submitted.
How long does a Maternity Allowance claim take to process?
Most decisions arrive within 20 working days of the Department for Work and Pensions receiving the completed form. Missing documents, particularly payslips or the MATB1 certificate, are the most common reason a claim takes longer.
Can I get the Maternity Allowance form MA1 by post if I can’t print it?
Yes, a paper copy of the MA1 form can be ordered by phone through Jobcentre Plus at no cost. It arrives by post along with the guidance notes needed to complete every section correctly.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute official financial or legal advice; always consult GOV.UK or a qualified professional for the most accurate and up-to-date guidance.
