Maternity Allowance 2026/27, explained
Maternity Allowance is a government payment for when you take time off to have a baby but can’t get Statutory Maternity Pay, for example because you’re self-employed or have recently stopped working. Here’s who qualifies, how much it is and how to claim. Checked against GOV.UK on 25 October 2026.
Who it’s for
You could get Maternity Allowance if you:
- are employed but can’t get Statutory Maternity Pay
- are self-employed
- have recently stopped working
- do unpaid work for your spouse or civil partner’s business
The 26-in-66 rule
You can get Maternity Allowance for up to 39 weeks if, in the 66 weeks before your baby is due (the ‘test period’), you’ve been either:
- employed for at least 26 weeks, earning (or classed as earning) £30 a week or more in at least 13 of those weeks, or
- registered as self-employed for at least 26 weeks
The weeks don’t need to be in a row, and different jobs or gaps between them don’t matter. If you’ve done unpaid work for your self-employed spouse or civil partner’s business for at least 26 of the 66 weeks (and haven’t been employed or self-employed), you might get it for up to 14 weeks instead.
How much is it?
| Your situation | What you get (2026/27) |
|---|---|
| Employed or recently stopped working | £194.32 a week, or 90% of your average weekly earnings if less, for up to 39 weeks |
| Self-employed | Between £27 and £194.32 a week for up to 39 weeks, depending on your Class 2 National Insurance contributions |
| Unpaid work for your spouse or civil partner’s business | £27 a week for up to 14 weeks |
Unlike SMP, there’s no 6-week period at 90% of earnings with no cap. Maternity leave can last 52 weeks, so if you take all of it, the final 13 weeks are unpaid.
Self-employed: for the maximum, you need to have been registered with HMRC for at least 26 of the 66 weeks and paid Class 2 contributions for at least 13 of them. With no Class 2 contributions you get £27 a week. If you’ve paid fewer than 13 weeks, HMRC will contact you after you apply about topping up (Class 2 contributions are £3.65 a week), and your payments can then be increased and backdated.
How to claim
- When: you can apply once you’ve been pregnant for 26 weeks. Payments can start any time from the 11th week before your baby is due up to the day after the birth.
- Deadline: to get the full amount, claim within 3 months of your Maternity Allowance start date.
- Form: the Maternity Allowance claim form, MA1, which you post to the address on the form.
- What to send: original payslips as proof of income, and proof of your due date, such as your MATB1 certificate or a letter from your doctor or midwife. If you were refused SMP, include your SMP1 form.
- Decision: you should hear within 20 working days.
How it’s paid
Maternity Allowance is paid every 2 or 4 weeks, usually straight into your bank, building society or credit union account. It can affect other benefits: for example, Universal Credit is reduced by the amount of your Maternity Allowance. You must report changes while you’re getting it, including going back to work. Up to 10 keeping in touch days won’t affect the amount, but you still need to report them.
Employed and not sure which you’ll get? The maternity pay calculator checks the SMP rules first.
Questions
How much is Maternity Allowance in 2026/27?
If you are employed or recently stopped working, £194.32 a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is less, for up to 39 weeks. If you are self-employed, between £27 and £194.32 a week depending on your Class 2 National Insurance contributions.
Can I get Maternity Allowance if I’m self-employed?
Yes, if you have been registered as self-employed for at least 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before your baby is due. How much you get depends on your Class 2 National Insurance contributions.
When can I claim Maternity Allowance?
Once you have been pregnant for 26 weeks. Payments can start from the 11th week before your baby is due. Claim within 3 months of your start date to get the full amount.
Do I need a MATB1 to claim Maternity Allowance?
You need proof of your due date. That can be your MATB1 certificate or a letter from your doctor or midwife on headed paper.
Can I get Maternity Allowance and SMP at the same time?
No. Maternity Allowance is for people who cannot get Statutory Maternity Pay. If you become entitled to SMP from your employer, you must report it.
More guides and calculators
- Statutory Maternity Pay 2026/27 explained
- Shared Parental Leave pay
- Maternity Allowance
- Keeping in touch (KIT) days
- Maternity pay calculator and the NHS maternity pay calculator
Sources: GOV.UK Maternity Allowance, Maternity Allowance: eligibility, Maternity Allowance: what you’ll get, Maternity Allowance: how to claim, Maternity Allowance: report a change of circumstances. This page is general information, not advice.
Now plan the whole year, not just the pay
Our Maternity Leave Money Planner uses the same tested calculations as the free calculator, then adds your real household budget, a savings target and your return-to-work options.
- Your household income and spending, month by month, from before leave until you're back at work
- How much to set aside each month, and the month money gets tightest
- Baby costs checklist, childcare comparison and the benefits to claim