NI17A - A guide to Maternity Benefits
Maternity Allowance (MA)
NI credits while you are getting MA
You will normally be entitled to NI contribution credits for each complete week in which you receive MA to maintain your NI record and assist you in any future claim to other benefits. These are added to your NI record automatically. You do not have to apply for them. A week for NI credits means Sunday through to the following Saturday.
If you are a married woman paying reduced rate NI contributions you will not be able to get NI credits.
Extra help through tax credits
There are two tax credits:
- Child Tax Credit, for families with children; and
- Working Tax Credit, to help working people on low incomes.
Child Tax Credit
Child Tax Credit is the main financial support for families from the Government for their children and for 16–19 year olds in full-time non-advanced education or approved training. The money you get is based on your income and that of your partner if you have one. All families with children, with an income up to £58,000 a year (or up to £66,000 a year if there is a child under one year old), are eligible for Child Tax Credit, regardless of whether or not the adults in the family are in work.
Families already getting Child Tax Credit can get additional help as soon as they have a new child without having to wait for the end of the tax year and without having to make a new claim. The family can simply contact the Tax Credit Helpline. See the number below.
Working Tax Credit
Working Tax Credit provides support for working people, helping to top up earnings. Mothers who are already getting Working Tax Credit can continue to receive it while they are getting MA or are absent from work during an ordinary maternity leave period or during the first 13 weeks of an additional maternity leave period. Mothers who were working at least 16 hours a week immediately before going on maternity leave may be able to claim Working Tax Credit while they are due MA without having to wait until they return to work.
It may also be possible to get help with the costs of eligible childcare both for the new baby and for other children in the family before a mother returns to work.
For further information, phone the Helpline:
England, Scotland and Wales 0845 300 3900
Northern Ireland only 0845 603 2000
If you need help or a form in Welsh, please phone 0845 302 1489.
For people with hearing and speech difficulties:
England, Scotland and Wales 0845 300 3909
Northern Ireland only 0845 607 6078
The Helpline is open from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week (except Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and Easter Sunday).
Read about Tax Credits on the HM Revenue & Customs website.
