function frameBuster() { if (top.frames.length > 1) { top.location.href = location.href; } }
Womens's Finance
More Babies!

By Jane Mack (TMFJane)

Further to our article about maternity rights, it seemed to me that a further explanation was needed of what women may be entitled to when they do not fulfil the criteria required for Statutory Maternity Pay. For example, you may be newly unemployed, self-employed, or have recently changed jobs. Or you may not have worked for a long time.

In most cases, what you'll get is the Maternity Allowance -- and it's not a lot!

The Maternity Allowance is payable by the Benefits Agency if you fall into one of the following categories:

  • you are employed but do not qualify for SMP (as outlined in our previous article); or
  • you have recently been employed but are not working now; or
  • you are self-employed.
Essentially, if you have been earning at least £30 a week on average for at least 26 weeks in the 'test' period (66 weeks before the week your baby is due), then you will be entitled to a Maternity Allowance of £100 a week.

However, who have not been earning at all during the previous 15 months will not be entitled to Maternity Allowance, and will need to look at Incapacity Benefit, Income Support or Family Credit. The Benefits Agency should automatically check to see if you qualify for any of these but it's worth giving them a nudge to make sure.

You can get some extra help from the Government if you're on certain benefits though. It's a one-off payment of up to £500 (called a Sure Start Maternity Grant) and you can claim it if you, or your partner, are getting one of the following:
  • Income Support;
  • Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance;
  • Working Families' Tax Credit; or
  • Disabled Person's Tax Credit;
If you're still a bit confused about what rights you have, then check out the website of the Department of Trade and Industry or ring your local Benefits Agency.

Where Next?






 


 

 
USEQWEB21 704 ms