Guidance

Maternity benefits: detailed guide

Find out about the 2 maternity benefits available under the social security scheme: Statutory Maternity Pay and Maternity Allowance.

From:

Department for Work and Pensions

Published:

1 April 2013

Last updated:

6 November 2025

Show all updates

6 November 2025
Removed textphone information - Relay UK can be used instead.
17 August 2023
Updated Maternity Allowance 'If you are going abroad or have been abroad', contact information. New address and phone numbers.
11 August 2020
Updated contact details for the Statutory Payment Dispute Team have been added.
10 December 2018
Updated guide to explain you'll need to apply for a Pregnancy and Baby Payment if you live in Scotland. You can no longer apply for a Sure Start Maternity Grant.
27 November 2018
Added information about the Pregnancy and Baby Payment replacing Sure Start Maternity Grant from 10 December 2018 if you live in Scotland.
26 March 2015
N17A updated to reflect National Insurance contribution changes (NICs) for the self-employed.
15 December 2014
Updated to take account of the new Shared Parental Leave and Pay scheme.
1 April 2014
Revisions have been published to the Maternity benefits technical guidance to include the introduction on 1 April 2014 of Maternity Allowance for women who are not employed or self-employed, their baby is due on or after 27 July 2014, and they take part in the business of their self-employed spouse or civil partner.
1 April 2013
First published.

Documents

Ref: NI17A

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A guide to the 2 maternity benefits available to women under the social security scheme:

This includes how the maternity benefits are worked out, the eligibility rules and when these benefits may be paid.