So, you’re self-employed and expecting a baby? Congratulations! Among all the baby name lists, buggy comparisons and bizarre cravings, one important question might be on your mind: Do I get maternity pay if I’m self-employed?

Short answer: not exactly, but you can claim Maternity Allowance, which is the government’s way of supporting self-employed mums-to-be. Here’s everything you need to know, minus the jargon and sugar-coating.

What is Maternity Allowance?

Maternity Allowance is a government benefit paid to some people who don’t qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay (like us self-employed folk). It’s there to help cover your income while you take time off to have a baby.

How Much Will I Get?

You could get £184.03 per week for up to 39 weeks (correct for 2024/25 tax year). That’s the maximum rate — and it’s tax-free!

But — and this is important — what you get depends on what National Insurance you’ve paid and how many weeks you’ve worked in the 66 weeks before your due date.

There are three tiers:

• £184.03/week if you’ve paid enough Class 2 National Insurance for at least 13 of the 66 weeks before your baby is due.
• £27/week if you haven’t paid enough Class 2 NICs.
• Somewhere in between if you’ve had mixed employment (e.g., part-time employed and part-time self-employed).

Do I Qualify?

You probably do if you:

✔️ Are registered as self-employed and paying Class 2 National Insurance.
✔️ Have been self-employed (or employed, or both) for at least 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before your baby’s due.
✔️ Earned at least £30 a week in any 13 of those weeks.

When Can I Claim?

You can apply from 26 weeks into your pregnancy, and payments can start as early as 11 weeks before your due date.
Top tip: apply early. You can always delay your start date, but you can’t go back and get missed weeks if you apply too late.

How Do I Apply?

You’ll need to fill out the MA1 form. You can:

• Apply online through your Government Gateway account (we recommend doing it this way)
• Or download the form and send it off by post

You’ll also need:

• Your MATB1 certificate (you’ll get this from your midwife around 20 weeks)
• Proof of income (like your last tax return or payslips if you’ve been part-employed)
• Your National Insurance number

What If I Haven’t Paid Enough Class 2 NI?

Good news: you can often make voluntary contributions to top it up and get the full amount. HMRC will usually send you a letter telling you how much to pay and how to do it. If you’re not sure, get in touch with your accountant (hi!) and we can help you sort it.

Can I Work While Getting Maternity Allowance?

Yes — to a point.

You’re allowed to work for up to 10 “Keeping In Touch” (KIT) days during your maternity leave without losing your allowance. Go over that and you risk losing the whole week’s payment. So keep track!

Final Thoughts

Being self-employed gives you freedom, but it also means you have to fight a bit harder for the perks. One thing to think about is whether you need to start saving because will maternity allowance be enough to keep you going whilst on maternity leave? A plus point is that maternity allowance is tax free.

At the end of the day, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Set up a plan ahead of time, but also give yourself space to adjust as needed once baby arrives. We are on hand to help is you have any questions on 01782 479699.