Maternity Benefits
If you are expecting a baby you may get a weekly allowance from your employer (Statutory Maternity Pay), or from social security (Maternity Allowance). If you are receiving certain benefits, you may also be entitled to a Sure Start Maternity Grant of £500. NHS dental treatment and prescriptions are free to all pregnant women. Some women also qualify for free milk and vitamins.
Statutory Maternity Pay
Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is paid for up to 26 weeks by your employer. You are entitled to SMP if you have worked for the same employer for at least 26 weeks by the end of the 15th week before the baby is due. Your average gross earnings in the 8 weeks up to and including the 15th week before the baby is due must be £77 or more (as at April 2003).
• You must ask your employer for SMP at least four weeks before you plan to stop work.
• You can choose when to start getting SMP. The earliest you can start getting it is 11 weeks before the baby is due. But, you can delay claiming up until the day following the birth.
• You will usually have to pay tax and National Insurance on SMP.
• You can still get SMP even if you do not intend to return to work.
How much is Statutory Maternity Pay?
For the first 6 weeks it is 90 per cent of your weekly wages. For the remaining 20 weeks it is £100 a week or 90% of your average weekly wages if this is less than £100 (April 2003 rate).
How do you claim Statutory Maternity Pay?
Your doctor or midwife will issue a certificate MAT B1 when you are about six months pregnant. You must show this to your employer when you claim SMP, at least four weeks before you want to stop work.
What if I work but do not qualify for SMP?
Your employer should give you a form SMP1. You may then be able to claim Maternity Allowance from social security. If you claim Maternity Allowance, you should send the completed form SMP1 in with your Maternity Allowance claim form.
Maternity Allowance
You can claim Maternity Allowance if you are self-employed, or employed and earn on average *30 a week or more but don't qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay. You may also be able to claim if you are not working, but have worked recently. You must have paid National Insurance Contributions as an employed or self-employed person in at least 26 weeks out of the 66 weeks before the baby is due.
How much is Maternity Allowance?
The rates of Maternity Allowance vary, depending on your earnings, but is up to £100 per week (April 2003 rate).
When is Maternity Allowance payable?
The earliest you can start getting it is 11 weeks before your baby is due. But, you can delay claiming up until the day following the birth. It is paid for up to 26 weeks.
How do you claim Maternity Allowance?
Contact your local social security office for a claim form. Find your local office in the phone book under Benefits Agency, Jobcentre Plus or Social Security. You can also download a claim form from the website of the Department for Work and Pensions (www.dwp.gov.uk).
Sure Start Maternity Grant
The Sure Start Maternity Grant (SSMG) is a lump sum of £500. It is intended to help with buying things needed for a new baby. It can be claimed any time from the 29th week of pregnancy until the baby is 3 months old. It is payable if you, or your partner, receive: Income Support OR Income based Jobseeker's Allowance OR Pension Credit OR Child Tax Credit which includes an amount higher than the family element OR Working Tax Credit where a disability or severe disability element is included in the award.
Payment of the grant is conditional upon you providing evidence that you have received health advice from a health professional (GP, midwife or health visitor). This advice will cover the health and welfare of you and your baby. You will normally be given this advice during the routine antenatal and postnatal care.
How do you claim Sure Start Maternity Grant?
Get the Sure Start Application Pack, SF100, from the local social security office. This includes a form which must be signed by a doctor, health visitor or midwife to confirm that you have had health advice.
How do you get free prescriptions?
If you are pregnant or have had a child in the past year, get form FW8 from your doctor, midwife or health visitor to apply for an exemption certificate.
Who can get free milk and vitamins?
If you (or your partner) are getting Income Support or Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance you will get these automatically if you are pregnant OR you have a child or children under 5.
Statutory paternity pay
Your partner may also be entitled to Statutory Paternity Pay. This is paid by employers for up to two weeks. (See separate leaflet.)
How can you find out more?
This leaflet only gives a brief summary of maternity benefits and is for guidance only. It does not cover all situations nor is it a full statement of the law. For further information contact your local social security office. Other sources of advice include the following.
Citizens Advice Bureau
Provides independent advice on many issues including benefits. Listed in the phone book under 'Citizens Advice Bureaux'.
Web resources
www.patient.co.uk - includes listings of web sites that provide information on benefits, disability organisations,
support for carers, etc.
