UK individuals who are not eligible for Statutory Maternity Payment (SMP) may be able to receive a Maternity Allowance (MA) under certain employment conditions, such as self-employment, recent unemployment, or a recent job change. Eligible individuals must have been employed for a minimum of 26 weeks in the 66 weeks prior to the due date, and earn a minimum of £30 GBP per week for 13 of those weeks. The maximum time period to receive funds from a maternity allowance is 39 weeks.
A Maternity Allowance (MA) is a form of paid parental leave for people in the United Kingdom (UK). Individuals who are not eligible for Statutory Maternity Payment (SMP) may be able to receive a master’s degree under certain employment conditions, such as self-employment, recent unemployment, or a recent job change. Low-income employees often qualify for both a maternity allowance and a maternity allowance under certain conditions.
Qualifications to receive maternity funds in the form of MA include eligibility for SMP, employment status, and length of employment. People who are eligible for an SMP cannot receive a maternity allowance. Eligible individuals must have been employed for a minimum of 26 weeks in the 66 weeks prior to the due date, and earn a minimum of £30 GBP per week for 13 of those weeks.
The employment situation is also relatively flexible to obtain a maternity allowance. Although individuals must have been employed for 26 weeks, they could be self-employed during those weeks or work for a different employer. Currently, unemployed people still qualify as long as they have met the minimum work requirement in the last 66 weeks. Weeks of part-time work still count as full weeks toward the 26-week requirement.
An MA typically pays a set allowance which is the lesser of 90% of an individual’s average earnings or £124.88 GBP per week. The payment start date is generally 11 weeks before the baby’s due date for unemployed people. For people who are currently employed, maternity benefits can begin to be claimed as early as 11 weeks before the due date and as late as the day after the baby is born. The maximum time period to receive funds from a maternity allowance is 39 weeks.
Applying for maternity allowance involves completing a claim form, which can be found at a local Department for Work and Pensions office, sometimes known as a social security office or Jobcentre Plus. Other requirements include medical pregnancy tests, evidence of current wages, and employer forms detailing ineligibility for SMP, known as SMP1 forms. Income statements must be submitted in the form of pay stubs, and self-employed individuals must submit small income exception certificates.
People can start claiming maternity allowance once they have reached 26 weeks of pregnancy. Maternity leave status does not interfere with other benefits or tax credits received through programs such as the Disability Allowance programs. Programs that will offer no benefits or reduced benefits include carer’s allowance, bereavement benefits, income support programs, as well as employment, support and job search allowances.
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