Maternity Allowance as a sole trader — how does it actually work and how do I claim it?

Hi Luna,

You are right that sole traders don't get Statutory Maternity Pay — Maternity Allowance is the equivalent for the self-employed, and it works well once you know the mechanics.

1. Amount and length: as a sole trader you can get between £27 and £194.32 a week, paid for up to 39 weeks. Exactly how much depends on your Class 2 National Insurance record (see below).

2. Claiming: you fill in the Maternity Allowance (MA1) claim form — you can complete it online and print it, or print it and fill it in by hand, then post it to the address on the form. You can apply once you've been pregnant for 26 weeks, and to get the full amount you're entitled to, claim within 3 months of your Maternity Allowance start date. Payments can start any time between the 11th week before the baby is due and the day after the birth. You'll need proof of your due date (your MATB1 certificate or a letter from your midwife or doctor). You should get a decision within 20 working days.

3. Class 2 NICs: yes, they matter. For the maximum £194.32 a week you must have been registered as self-employed for at least 26 weeks and paid Class 2 NICs for at least 13 of the 66 weeks before the baby is due. If you've paid for fewer than 13 weeks, the payment is reduced (down to £27 a week if you've paid none) — but HMRC will contact you after you apply and let you top up your contributions to increase the amount. Given your profits dipped below the threshold one year, it's worth checking your contributions record in your Personal Tax Account before you claim.

4. Doing a little work: you must report any return to work, including paid work. Employees can take up to 10 "keeping in touch" days without it affecting Maternity Allowance; for self-employed work, any work you do must be reported and can affect your payments, so the safe route is to call the Maternity Allowance helpline before taking on the odd job and get their answer confirmed.

Six months off sits comfortably inside the 39-week payment period, so you can time your claim to cover the whole break.

Hope that helps.

Amelia