How Much Is Maternity Allowance In 2026: Weekly Rates, Eligibility, Claim Steps, Forms, Pay Dates
If you’re searching how much is maternity allowance, the amount depends on your work status and recent earnings. It is a state benefit designed for people who are pregnant or have recently had a baby and do not qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay.
Maternity Allowance is paid for up to 39 weeks. For the 2025/26 tax year, the maximum is £187.18 a week, or 90% of your average weekly earnings if that is lower. From 6 April 2026, the standard rate is set to rise to £194.32 a week, with a separate £27 rate for limited cases.
How Much Is Maternity Allowance and What Affects the Amount?
Maternity Allowance is a weekly payment from the Department for Work and Pensions for people who do not get Statutory Maternity Pay. You may receive the full weekly rate or 90% of your average weekly earnings if that is lower.
Payments can run for up to 39 weeks, with a lower £27 rate for certain unpaid work cases.
What decides the exact amount you receive?
These three factors usually determine the amount:
- Your average weekly earnings in the relevant weeks you choose to evidence.
- Whether you are employed, self-employed, recently stopped working, or doing unpaid work for a partner’s business.
- The rate year your claim falls in, because the standard rate can change each April.
A frequent sticking point is the 90% of earnings rule: if your average pay is lower, that figure can set your weekly amount rather than the maximum rate.
Maternity Allowance rates at a glance
For 2025/26 and 2026/27, the main rates are:
- Up to 5 April 2026: maximum £187.18 per week.
- From 6 April 2026: standard rate £194.32 per week.
- Lower-rate cases: £27 per week for a limited period in specific circumstances.
| Situation and payment length | What you could get per week | How long it can last |
| Employed or recently stopped working | Up to the standard weekly rate, or 90% of average weekly earnings if lower | Up to 39 weeks |
| Self-employed | Between £27 and the standard weekly rate, depending on National Insurance contributions | Up to 39 weeks |
| Unpaid work for spouse or civil partner’s business | £27 | Up to 14 weeks |
What is the weekly Maternity Allowance rate in 2026?
From 6 April 2026, the standard weekly rate is £194.32. Before that date in the 2025/26 tax year, the maximum is £187.18.
Where your earnings are lower, you may get 90% of your average weekly earnings instead of the maximum.
Where hours vary, choosing the best 13 qualifying weeks within the allowed window can increase the average used to work out your payment.
How does the 90% rule work in real life?
- If 90% of your average weekly earnings is below the weekly cap, you get the lower figure.
- If 90% is above the weekly cap, you get the capped weekly rate for that year.
Maternity Allowance when your earnings are low
When your average weekly earnings are modest, the cap becomes irrelevant and your payment is effectively earnings-based. If your average weekly earnings are £120, then 90% is £108, so your Maternity Allowance would be £108 per week rather than the maximum rate.
Who can claim Maternity Allowance?
You can usually claim if you take time off to have a baby, and you:
- Are employed but cannot get Statutory Maternity Pay from an employer.
- Are self-employed and meet the National Insurance conditions.
- Recently stopped working but meets the work and earnings tests.
- Do unpaid work for a spouse or civil partner’s business and meet the separate rules.
You’ll usually come across the Department for Work and Pensions, Statutory Maternity Pay, National Insurance contributions, the MATB1 certificate, the MA1 claim form, and an SMP1 form from your employer.
If your work situation changes and you’re considering other support in the meantime, questions about income, eligibility and savings often come up alongside maternity payments, including can i claim job seekers allowance if i have savings when someone is between roles.
The eligibility tests you should know
Eligibility is usually judged using:
- A 66-week test period before the week your baby is due.
- Work for at least 26 weeks in that test period.
- Earnings of at least £30 per week for any 13 weeks in the test period (they do not have to be consecutive).
When reviewing decisions, most disputes come down to missing evidence for earnings weeks or confusion over which weeks fall inside the 66-week window.
Maternity Allowance If You Are Self-Employed
Self-employed claims can range from £27 up to the standard weekly rate, depending on your National Insurance record. You do not need an employer to claim, but you do need to show you meet the work test and have the right contribution history.
Typical evidence includes:
- Self Assessment information (such as a tax calculation or return details).
- Invoices, receipts, or business records showing you were working.
- National Insurance contribution history.
Mini example: A freelance hairdresser had steady bookings but uneven income. She used a strong run of paid weeks to evidence earnings, which increased her average and moved her payment closer to the weekly cap.
How is Maternity Allowance different from Statutory Maternity Pay?
Maternity Allowance is usually paid by the state. Statutory Maternity Pay is paid by your employer through payroll (with tax and National Insurance deducted). Many people only look at the weekly numbers and miss the bigger difference: the qualifying rules and who pays you.
| Key differences | Maternity Allowance | Statutory Maternity Pay |
| Who pays | DWP | Employer via payroll |
| Who it is for | People who do not qualify for SMP | Employees who meet SMP rules |
| Typical structure | Single weekly rate up to 39 weeks (or 90% if lower) | 6 weeks at 90% earnings, then capped rate for 33 weeks |
| Tax and NI | Usually treated as a tax-free benefit | Tax and NI deducted |
What to do if your employer says you cannot get SMP?
Ask for an SMP1 form. This document explains why you do not qualify and is often used as supporting evidence when you claim Maternity Allowance.
Mini example: An employee started a new job while pregnant and did not meet the employer tenure rules. HR issued an SMP1, and her Maternity Allowance claim was processed using that plus payslips.
When can you apply and when do payments start?
You can usually apply once you have been pregnant for 26 weeks. Payments can start any time from 11 weeks before the week your baby is due up to the day after the birth.
To avoid delays, it helps to:
- Request your MATB1 from your midwife or GP as soon as you are eligible.
- Gather your payslips (or proof of earnings) early, especially if you have multiple employers.
- If you are not eligible for SMP, get the SMP1 promptly.
How to claim Maternity Allowance?
The claim process is document-led, but straightforward when the evidence is complete. Your goal is to submit a complete MA1 claim with the right supporting evidence so it can be processed without follow-up.
Steps to reduce delays in your claim
- Get your MATB1 certificate from your midwife or GP.
- Ask your employer for SMP1 if they cannot pay Statutory Maternity Pay.
- Choose the weeks you’ll use to evidence earnings, ensuring they meet the rules.
- Collect payslips or self-employed proof for those weeks.
- Complete the MA1 claim form accurately, matching names and dates to your documents.
- Submit the claim with all attachments, keeping copies of everything.
- Report any work days taken during the claim period as required.
How are Maternity Allowance payments made?
Maternity Allowance is typically paid in arrears, often every 2 or 4 weeks, rather than weekly. The payment schedule can be easy to misread, especially when budgeting.
For budgeting, the following usually helps:
- Treat the weekly rate as a budgeting unit, then translate it into a 2-week or 4-week total.
- Plan for a short gap between your chosen start date and the first payment run.
- Keep a small buffer for admin delays if evidence is incomplete.
Can you work while receiving Maternity Allowance?
You can usually do up to 10 keeping in touch days without reducing your Maternity Allowance. If you work more than that, you may lose money.
The details that tend to make a difference are:
- A day can count even if it is short.
- Self-employed work can also count.
- You must report keeping in touch days during your Maternity Allowance Period.
Mini example: A retail supervisor covered a single handover shift and later answered a day of training. She reported both as keeping in touch days and avoided an overpayment issue.
Common Mistakes That Reduce Your Maternity Allowance
Most lower-than-expected payments come down to evidence or timing issues. The usual causes are admin errors rather than eligibility surprises.
Common mistakes:
- Picking weak earnings weeks when stronger weeks exist within the test period.
- Missing documents, especially MATB1 or SMP1.
- Confusing 52 weeks leave with 39 weeks paid and budgeting as if all leave is paid.
- Forgetting to report keeping in touch days.
- Submitting inconsistent dates across forms and evidence.
In practice, the fastest fixes come from re-checking dates: due week, 11-week earliest start point, and the exact earnings weeks used for the average.
If health limitations are also in the picture, it helps to keep wording consistent across paperwork, as eligibility terms can overlap; conditions that automatically qualify you for LCWRA can help you recognise the official phrasing used in work capability decisions.
Understanding key dates and what they mean
Maternity Allowance can be paid for up to 39 weeks. This often sits alongside a broader time off plan, but the payment length itself does not automatically stretch to match a full year away from work.
A simple way to separate the two is:
- Paid period: up to 39 weeks.
- Time off: depends on your employment status and arrangements, but payment and time off are not the same thing.
| Key dates and what they mean | What it means | Why it matters |
| 26 weeks pregnant | Earliest point you can usually apply | Lets you gather MATB1 and evidence early |
| 11 weeks before due week | Earliest payment start window | Controls when money begins |
| Up to 39 weeks | Maximum paid period | Helps you budget for any unpaid time afterwards |
Does Maternity Allowance affect other benefits?
It can affect means-tested benefits because it counts as income for some calculations. If you receive Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, or other support, changes in your household income can alter monthly awards.
If you also have caring responsibilities at home, it can help to understand the wider support available, including what benefits can you claim if you are a carer, so you can plan changes in income with fewer surprises.
Useful preparation steps:
- Note your expected Maternity Allowance start date and amount.
- Keep a record of childcare and housing costs, as they can interact with benefit assessments.
- Report changes promptly to avoid overpayments and later deductions.
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Final summary and next steps
Maternity Allowance is paid for up to 39 weeks and is usually capped at the standard weekly rate for the year, or 90% of your average weekly earnings if lower. For 2025/26, the maximum is £187.18, rising to £194.32 from 6 April 2026, with a £27 rate for limited cases.
Next steps: confirm you are not eligible for Statutory Maternity Pay, secure SMP1 if needed, request MATB1, choose the best eligible earnings weeks, and submit MA1 with complete evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is maternity allowance per week?
Maternity Allowance is paid weekly up to a capped standard rate for the relevant year, or 90% of your average weekly earnings if that is lower. For 2025/26, the maximum is £187.18. From 6 April 2026, the standard rate is £194.32. Some lower-rate cases receive £27.
How long is Maternity Allowance paid for?
Maternity Allowance can be paid for up to 39 weeks. If you take a longer period off work, the extra time is not automatically covered by this payment. The key planning point is to map the paid weeks against your leave or time-off plan so the unpaid weeks are expected.
Is Maternity Allowance taxable?
Maternity Allowance is generally treated as a tax-free state benefit. That differs from Statutory Maternity Pay, which is processed through payroll and has tax and National Insurance deducted. If you file a Self Assessment, keep records so you can report income accurately and avoid confusion with taxable earnings.
Can you get Maternity Allowance if you are unemployed?
You may still qualify if you worked enough in the 66-week test period before the due week and meet the minimum earnings condition for at least 13 weeks. Being unemployed right now does not automatically prevent a claim. What matters is your recent work history and evidence.
Can you claim Maternity Allowance after the baby is born?
Yes. Payments can start as late as the day after the birth, although many people choose to start earlier within the 11-week window before the due week. Claiming later may reduce the time you receive payments if you delay too long, so timing choices affect total support.
What is the difference between SMP1 and MATB1?
MATB1 is your pregnancy certificate issued by a midwife or GP and supports the claim timing. SMP1 is a form your employer provides if you cannot get Statutory Maternity Pay. Many claims use both MATB1 to prove pregnancy timing and SMP1 to confirm why SMP is not payable.
How much is maternity allowance if you have more than one job?
If you have multiple employers, you normally need to check SMP eligibility for each employer separately. If no employer can pay SMP, you may claim Maternity Allowance using earnings evidence from the relevant work weeks. Keep payslips from all jobs because missing one set can lower your average.
Can you work while claiming Maternity Allowance?
You can usually do up to 10 keeping in touch days without reducing your Maternity Allowance. Work beyond that may reduce what you receive. Reporting these days matters because unreported work can create overpayments that later have to be repaid or deducted from future payments.
How much is maternity allowance if your earnings change week to week?
If earnings vary, your average weekly earnings are calculated using the weeks you provide as evidence within the test period rules. Choosing stronger weeks can increase the average, but the cap still applies. Keep payslips in order and double-check dates so the chosen weeks fall inside the permitted window.
Author note
Written from hands-on experience reviewing maternity pay scenarios, DWP decision letters, and employer payroll outcomes. The focus is practical: rates, forms, deadlines, and the real-world points where claims stall. This is general information to help you prepare a clean claim and avoid common admin errors.
