Maternity Allowance

Basic qualifying conditions

To qualify for MA you must:

• Be pregnant or have recently given birth
• Have stopped work
• Have been employed or self-employed in at least 26 of the 66 weeks immediately before the expected week of childbirth (EWC), and
• Have earnings from employment or self-employment which, on average, amount to at least £30 a week for any 13 weeks in the 66 weeks immediately before the EWC.

Maternity Allowance is payable for a maximum of 39 weeks, starting no earlier than 11 weeks before the EWC.

Employees: If you are an employee, MA will be paid to you at the rate of 90% of your average weekly earnings, up to a maximum of £179.85 a week.  

Self-employed: If you are self-employed and have paid class 2 National Insurance contributions, you will be paid maternity allowance at the weekly rate of £156.66.

If you are self-employed and have a Small Earnings Exception Certificate, you will be paid maternity allowance at the weekly rate of £27.00.

You must be ordinarily resident in the Isle of Man at the time of your claim.

Applying for Maternity Allowance

Please send your completed MA1 claim form and the maternity certificate (MAT B1) with your claim form. The claim should be made in or after the 14th week before the EWC.

Read more about maternity benefits, MA5 - A Guide to Maternity Allowance.

Payments

We can pay you directly into your bank or building society account every two weeks, or you can use your MiCard at the Post Office.