Maternity Allowance in social security agreement countries
Maternity allowance is covered by the agreements with the following countries:
- Barbados
- Israel
- Jersey and Guernsey
- Republics of the former Yugoslavia
- Turkey
Going from the UK to another social security agreement country
Maternity Allowance (MA) is paid to help women take time off work when they are expecting a baby. It can be paid for a maximum continuous period of 39 weeks. To qualify you must have been employed or self-employed in at least 26 of the 66 weeks before the week your baby is expected and have average weekly earnings of at least £30. The rate of benefit depends on your average weekly earnings. You can find more about MA on the Jobcentre Plus website.
You might be able to get MA for a time if you are going to another country temporarily and you are going for medical treatment, or you have already been incapable of working for six months.
If this does not apply, you may still be able to get MA while you are in the other country, as long as you have been employed or self-employed in the UK.
If you are getting UK MA and you plan to go to another country, let your local Jobcentre Plus office know well before you leave the UK. You will need to tell them:
- your full name and address;
- your National Insurance number;
- details of the benefits you are getting;
- the date you plan to go abroad;
- when you plan to come back to the UK; and
- why you are going abroad.
You may need to claim the equivalent MA payable under the other country's scheme after you go there, and become insured under that country's scheme. Except for Barbados, your UK insurance may help you to qualify for that country's benefit.
Coming to the UK from another social security agreement country
You may be able to get MA under the other country's scheme while you are in the UK if you fulfill certain conditions, for example
Barbados
If you would get the benefit if you were living in Barbados.
Jersey and Guernsey
If you have been employed or self-employed in Jersey or Guernsey.
Republics of the former Yugoslavia and Turkey
If you are still insured under that scheme because you are working in the UK for an employer in the Republic or Turkey, or you are only in the UK for a short time.
Except for Barbados, if you cannot claim an allowance under the other country's scheme, you might still be able to qualify for UK MA if you worked in the other country. But you must have paid contributions as an employed or self-employed person under the UK scheme since you last arrived in the UK. For further information, please contact The Pension Service (Directgov).
Claiming benefit from both the UK and Jersey or Guernsey
You cannot claim benefit for the same period of time from both countries. If you have a separate right to benefit from the UK and Jersey or Guernsey, you will only be paid the benefit by one country. It will be the country you were last insured in before you qualified for benefit.
