When to Apply for Maternity Allowance?

You can claim Maternity Allowance as soon as you have been pregnant for 26 weeks. Payments can start 11 weeks before your baby is due.

How late can I apply for maternity allowance?

The earliest it can start to be paid is the 11th week before the baby is due. If you claim late, you can get Maternity Allowance backdated for up to three months if you would have been entitled to it earlier. It does not matter why your claim is late.

What date would you like your maternity allowance to start?

Maternity Allowance is paid for up to 39 weeks. You can start your claim from the 26^th week of your pregnancy. The earliest you can get your first payment is 11 weeks before your baby is due.