Maternity Allowance calculator
Maternity Allowance is the route for people who cannot get Statutory Maternity Pay. This estimates the weekly rate and the total across up to 39 weeks.
Your average weekly earnings look below the £30 test used for the self-employed route, so check your entitlement on gov.uk.
How Maternity Allowance is worked out
Maternity Allowance pays a single level rate across the whole claim. Each week is the lower of £194.32 or 90% of your average weekly earnings, and it runs for up to 39 weeks. There is no six-week higher band like Statutory Maternity Pay, so the amount does not step down partway through. That makes the total simple to plan: the weekly figure multiplied by the number of weeks you claim.
The scheme exists because not everyone qualifies for SMP. Self-employed people, those who moved jobs during pregnancy, and lower earners who fall outside an employer scheme can often still get Maternity Allowance. It is paid by the DWP, not an employer, and you apply for it yourself rather than it arriving through payroll.
Worked example
Take average weekly earnings of £300. Ninety per cent of that is £270, which is above the flat rate, so the weekly amount is capped at £194. Across the full 39 weeks that is £7,578, roughly £842 a month. A self-employed parent with a complete Class 2 record would usually get this same standard rate, while gaps in that record can pull the weekly figure down.
Common questions
What is Maternity Allowance and who is it for?
Maternity Allowance is a payment for people who cannot get Statutory Maternity Pay, most often the self-employed, recent job changers or those who earn too little through one employer. It comes from the Department for Work and Pensions rather than an employer, and you claim it directly.
How much is Maternity Allowance in 2026/27?
The standard rate is the lower of £194.32 a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings, paid for up to 39 weeks. Unlike Statutory Maternity Pay there is no separate higher rate for the first six weeks, so the amount is level across the whole period.
How is Maternity Allowance different from SMP?
Statutory Maternity Pay pays 90% of your earnings for the first 6 weeks and then the flat rate for 33 weeks, and it comes through your employer’s payroll. Maternity Allowance has no 90% high period, is paid by the DWP, and is aimed at people who do not qualify for SMP.
Can I get Maternity Allowance if I am self-employed?
Yes. If you have been self-employed and registered to pay Class 2 National Insurance you can usually get the full standard rate for 39 weeks. If you have gaps in your Class 2 record you may get a lower rate, so it is worth checking your National Insurance position before you claim.
Does Maternity Allowance affect other benefits?
Maternity Allowance can reduce means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit, because it counts as income. It is not taxed, but it is still worth checking how a claim interacts with anything else you receive before you rely on the full figure.