NI17A - A guide to Maternity Benefits
If you cannot get SMP or MA
Incapacity Benefit
If you cannot get either SMP from your employer or MA from your Jobcentre Plus office, you may be able to get Incapacity Benefit. This will depend on your National Insurance (NI) contributions in recent years. Your maternity certificate (form MATB1) is accepted as evidence of incapacity for work for the period starting 6 weeks before the week the baby is due, to 14 days after the date on which the baby is born.
If you claim MA, your claim will automatically be considered for Incapacity Benefit if you do not qualify for MA. You do not need to make a separate claim although you may be contacted for further information. This is true even if your MA claim is delayed until up to 3 months after your baby is born.
Jobseeker’s Allowance
If your MA claim is disallowed, you may be able to continue to claim Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) after the beginning of the 11th week before the week in which your baby is due. But remember, you can claim JSA only if you are available for, capable of and actively seeking work. You should consult your Jobcentre Plus office.
Income Support
You may be able to claim Income Support from the period beginning 11 weeks before your expected date of childbirth and ending 15 weeks after the date your pregnancy ends. You may also be able to claim at any time during your pregnancy if you are unable to work because of your pregnancy.
Sure Start Maternity Grant
The Sure Start Maternity Grant is a one-off payment to help with the cost of a new baby.
If you or your partner are getting
- Income Support or
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or
- Pension Credit or
- Working Tax Credit where a disability or severe disability element is included in the award or
- Child Tax Credit at a rate higher than the family element
you may be able to get a Sure Start Maternity Grant. You must claim in the period beginning 11 weeks before your baby is due until 3 months after the baby is born. If you are adopting, your baby must be aged under 12 months when you claim. You must claim within 3 months of adopting.
If your baby is born by surrogacy, you and your husband or wife must have a parental order. You must claim within 3 months of the order being made. For more information, ask your Jobcentre Plus office for leaflet Sure Start Maternity Grant from the Social Fund (SFMA5JP).
NI Credits
If you do not qualify for SMP, MA or IB, you may still be entitled to some NI contribution credits for 6 weeks before the week your baby is due until two weeks after the date your baby is born. But if you are a married woman paying reduced rate NI contributions you will not be able to get NI credits. You must send your maternity certificate (MATB1) to your Jobcentre Plus office and you must not work during that time. These credits will maintain your NI record and assist you in any future claims to other benefits.