Nine Months : Your rights to a maternity allowance

If you are not entitled for SMP, you may be entitled to Maternity Allowance. This is a benefit for women who have changed jobs during pregnancy and/or are self employed or have had periods of low earnings or unemployment during their pregnancy. Maternity Allowance lasts for 26 weeks. It is £102.80 a week for 26 weeks or 90% of your average earnings if that is less.

You can get Maternity Allowance if:

-you have worked for 26 weeks during the 66 weeks before your baby is due, and you can find 13 weeks in which you earned over £30 a week.

To claim Maternity Allowance, ask your local Jobcentre Plus for form MA1.