Maternity Allowance
What is Maternity Allowance?
Maternity Allowance is a weekly paid benefit that is to help you while you take time off work to have your baby. The amount you receive will depend on the social security contributions you have paid.
Please note: it cannot be paid on your husband’s contributions.
How much is Maternity Allowance?
The full rate for Maternity Allowance is currently £184.45 a week.
How long can I claim Maternity Allowance for?
The total number of weeks you can normally get the allowance for is 18 weeks. However, this may be extended if your baby is born late.
18 weeks payment is broken down into:
- 6 weeks paid before your baby is born
- the week of the birth
- 11 weeks after your baby is born
When can I start claiming the allowance?
You cannot claim Maternity Allowance and work at the same time. So if you are working we can only start to pay you your allowance once you have stopped. This can mean that you may lose some weeks of Maternity Allowance.
Example: If you give up work 2 weeks before your baby is due you will receive 2 weeks of allowance before the birth and then 1 week for the week your baby is actually born and 11 weeks after. So in total you will receive 14 weeks of allowance instead of the maximum 18. Although you lose 4 weeks of allowance you may be better off if your earnings are more per week than the amount of Maternity Allowance that we pay (full rate £184.45 a week).
If you decide to give up work 6 weeks or more before the birth you will be able to claim the full 18 weeks. The earliest you can start your Maternity Allowance is 11 weeks before the birth.
Will I get the Maternity Allowance?
Maternity Allowance is paid based on your social security contribution record. If you do not have a complete record you may be entitled to a reduced rate.
We take the date that your baby is due and we look back at your contribution record roughly between 12-15 months.
Calculate if you are entitled to Maternity Allowance
How is the allowance paid?
Payment is normally sent direct to your bank account.
How do I claim Maternity Allowance?
Your doctor or midwife will give you the claim form that you need. The claim form is called 'Maternity benefit – allowance and grant claim form'. The same form is used to claim the Maternity Grant.
Please make sure that you sign and fill out the form completely. Not completing the form can delay your claim.
When do I claim for the allowance?
Please complete the form and send it back to us no earlier than 14 weeks and no later than 7 weeks before your baby is due to be born.
Please note: if you claim later than 7 weeks before your baby is due to be born, your claim will be considered late and you may lose some benefit.
Can I claim after the birth?
If you claim Maternity Allowance within 6 weeks after the birth, you will normally only receive the allowance for 12 weeks starting with the week in which you gave birth. If you delay your claim more than 3 months after the birth, the allowance may not be paid.
Please note: If you did not claim before the birth and you believe that there is a good reason why, you should tell us when you make your claim.
What will happen to my contributions whilst I am getting the allowance?
Providing you have the required amount of contributions, while you are claiming the Maternity Allowance we will cover your contributions for you. We do this by crediting your record. Credits protect your record in the same way paid contributions do and help with future entitlement to benefits.
Can I claim an increase for my husband or partner?
You can claim an increase in your allowance if your husband or partner is claiming Home Responsibility Protection and is residing with you.
Caring for a child at home - Home Responsibility Protection
Please note: If you get Maternity Allowance at a lower rate because you do not fully meet the contribution conditions, any increase for an adult dependant will also be lower.
Does Maternity Allowance affect any of my other benefits?
You cannot get Maternity Allowance if you are already receiving an equal or higher rate of Short or Long Term Incapacity Allowance or Incapacity Pension. This also applies to people who receive an Invalidity, Disablement or Widow’s Benefit.
Please contact us if you are receiving 1 of these benefits and wish to claim Maternity Allowance so that we can advise you.
What happens if my baby arrives early or late?
If your baby is early
If your baby is born during the 11 weeks before your due date, it will not affect the allowance.
If your pregnancy ends more than 11 weeks before your due date, you should let us know as soon as possible. Maternity Allowance will not be paid if the pregnancy lasts less than 24 weeks, unless a living child is born. The maternity benefit claim form from your doctor or midwife, or the birth certificate, should be sent to us.
If your baby is born late
If your baby is born later than the week it was due, you may be able to get your maternity allowance extended. A letter should have been sent to you letting you know that you are entitled to the allowance - on the back of this letter is a declaration that you must complete if your baby is late. We will also need to see your baby’s birth certificate.
Do I get more Maternity Allowance if I am having more than one baby?
No, the allowance remains the same. There is no increase if you have more than one baby.
Can I still get the Maternity Allowance if I am not having my baby in Jersey?
If Jersey has an agreement with the country that you are going to be in when you have your baby then we can still pay you the allowance. If you are having your baby outside Jersey please speak to one of our advisors in the Health Zone.
When the Maternity Allowance cannot be paid
The allowance cannot be paid for any day in which you work or if you:
- have left Jersey for another country
- have been sent to prison
If you receive payment and you realise that you should not have, please contact us as soon as possible.