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Self-employed women can’t get Statutory Maternity Pay, but Maternity Allowance provides similar support. Here’s how to claim and what else is available.
SMP vs Maternity Allowance
| Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) | Maternity Allowance (MA) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who gets it | Employees only | Self-employed and those who don’t qualify for SMP |
| Paid by | Your employer | Jobcentre Plus / DWP |
| First 6 weeks | 90% of average earnings | Flat rate from day 1 |
| Remaining 33 weeks | £184.03/week or 90% (lower) | £184.03/week or 90% (lower) |
| Total duration | 39 weeks | 39 weeks |
Maternity Allowance Eligibility
To qualify for the standard rate of Maternity Allowance as a self-employed woman:
You Must Have
- Been self-employed for at least 26 weeks in the 66-week “test period” before your due date (the weeks don’t need to be consecutive)
- Paid Class 2 National Insurance for at least 13 of those 66 weeks
The Test Period
The 66-week test period ends with the week before your baby is due (the “qualifying week”). Count back 66 weeks from there.
Example: Baby due 1 September 2026. Qualifying week starts 25 August. Count 66 weeks back = roughly June 2025. You need 26 weeks of self-employment between June 2025 and August 2026.
Class 2 NI Requirement
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum NI weeks | 13 weeks of Class 2 NI in the test period |
| Class 2 NI rate | £3.45/week (2024/25) |
| How to pay | Usually through Self Assessment, or voluntary contributions |
| Can I catch up? | Yes — pay voluntary Class 2 NI for missing weeks |
If you haven’t been paying Class 2 NI (e.g., your profits are below the Small Profits Threshold), you can make voluntary payments to qualify. 13 weeks × £3.45 = just £44.85 — a tiny investment for 39 weeks of MA.
How Much Will You Get?
Standard Rate
- £184.03 per week for up to 39 weeks (2024/25)
- Or 90% of your average weekly earnings if this is lower
- Average earnings are based on 13 weeks of your choosing within the test period
If Your Earnings Are Very Low
If your average earnings are below £30/week, you receive:
- £27/week for 14 weeks (minimum rate)
Total Payments
| Rate | Weekly | 39 Weeks Total |
|---|---|---|
| Standard (£184.03) | £184.03 | £7,177.17 |
| Lower (90% of £150) | £135.00 | £5,265.00 |
| Minimum | £27.00 | £378.00 (14 weeks only) |
How to Claim
When to Claim
You can claim from week 26 of pregnancy (about 14 weeks before your due date). Don’t wait — claims can take several weeks to process.
What You Need
- MA1 form (claim form) — available online from gov.uk or at Jobcentre Plus
- MATB1 certificate — from your midwife or GP (available from 20 weeks of pregnancy)
- Proof of self-employment — Self Assessment tax returns, invoices, business bank statements
- Evidence of Class 2 NI payments — your NI record (check via gov.uk)
Where to Send It
Post the completed MA1 form and MATB1 certificate to:
Jobcentre Plus, Maternity Allowance, Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton, WV98 1SU
Processing Time
Typically 2–4 weeks from receiving your application. Payments can be backdated to when you stopped working or your due date (whichever is later).
When Can You Start Receiving MA?
| Period | MA Status |
|---|---|
| 11 weeks before due date | Earliest you can start receiving MA |
| Due date | If you haven’t claimed earlier, MA starts from your due date |
| Working after 36 weeks | Any work after this automatically triggers MA |
| After birth | Must take at least 2 weeks off after birth |
You choose your start date (earliest is 11 weeks before due date). Plan this around your business needs.
Working During Maternity Allowance
Keeping in Touch (KIT) Days
You can work for 10 days during your MA period without affecting your payments. These are called KIT days.
- Useful for essential client meetings, handovers, or critical business tasks
- Each day you work counts as a KIT day regardless of hours
- After 10 days, any week you work means losing MA for that week
Flexible Maternity Allowance
Since April 2024, you can take MA in blocks rather than one continuous period:
- Take (for example) 20 weeks off, work for 4 weeks, then take the remaining 19 weeks
- Allows you to manage business commitments around your maternity
- Must take at least 2 continuous weeks off after birth
Self-Employment Work
If you do any self-employment work in a week (beyond your 10 KIT days):
- You lose MA for that entire week
- This includes checking emails, doing admin, invoicing
- The definition is broad — be careful
Other Financial Support
Universal Credit
If your MA amount is low, you may also qualify for:
- Universal Credit — MA counts as income but you may still receive a top-up
- Sure Start Maternity Grant — £500 one-off payment for your first child if on certain benefits
- Healthy Start vouchers — for food and milk during pregnancy
Other Benefits to Check
| Benefit | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Free NHS prescriptions | All pregnant women and those with a child under 1 |
| Free NHS dental treatment | During pregnancy and 12 months after birth |
| Council Tax Reduction | Income-based — may qualify if income drops |
| Housing Benefit / UC housing element | If your income drops during maternity |
Tax Considerations
- Maternity Allowance is tax-free — you don’t pay income tax on it
- It doesn’t count as earnings for tax purposes
- Your self-employment profits will be lower for the year (less self-employed work)
- Continue to file your Self Assessment as normal
Planning Ahead
Before Getting Pregnant
- Check your NI record — make sure you’re paying Class 2 NI
- Pay any voluntary NI to fill gaps
- Save an emergency fund — MA may be less than your normal income
- Consider income protection insurance — some policies cover maternity
During Pregnancy
- Claim MA from week 26 — don’t delay
- Plan your handover — clients, projects, subcontractors
- Set an out-of-office — manage client expectations
- Budget for reduced income — create a maternity budget