Maternity allowance and self employed

MandyG_3

just been looking on the job centre plus website and it says you can apply for maternity allowance even if you are self employed.

I have been self employed since april 2006 but never thoguth I could get MA.

would I be entitled to it?

in the year 06/07 I made a loss of £2500 and am in different self employment just now but am only making £100 a month

I still pay my national insurance contributions as I thought it would be better to pay than to get an exemption certificate.

it said on the website if you have been paying class 2 NI contributions then you might get MA

is this right?

MandyG_3

forgot to add - how would MA affect income support?

my husband is waiting to hear about IB and IS, I read somewhere it doesn't affect your tax credits

xx

Becles

If you have paid your class 2 NI for long enough, you should get £112.75 a week in maternity allowance. Download the claim form from the Job Centre website to check the dates, to make sure you have paid enough NI contributions. With no exemption certificate and the correct number of contributions you will get £112.75 regardless of your earnings.

I'm not sure how it affects the other benefits though.

MandyG_3

thanks for that

jsut been on and had a wee look and I should be able to get it

one question though - it says you can get it when self employed as long as you have paid 13 national insurance things

does this mean 13 weeks national insurance?

I have paid quarterly since april 2006 - almost 5 quarters now IYKWIM?

xx

Becles

Yes it means 13 weeks, rather than 13 payments, so you will have paid enough.

When you claim MA, they tell NI so you don't get billed for the weeks you claim MA. When the claim for MA finishes, they tell NI to start billing you again.