Benefits delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will increase from today (April 10) by 10.1 per cent. The annual uprating includes a boost for an estimated 40,000 mothers expected to take time off work to care for their new born child this year.
People eligible for the standard rate of Maternity Allowance will receive £172.48 each week (up from £156.66), or 90 per cent of their average weekly earnings (whichever is less) for 39 weeks if you’re employed or have recently stopped working. You can get Maternity Allowance for up to 39 weeks, this means if you take the full 52 weeks Statutory Maternity Leave, your final 13 weeks will be unpaid.
Maternity Allowance is paid every two or four weeks and there are different payment rules for the self-employed or if you do unpaid work for your spouse or civil partner’s business. These can be found on GOV.UK here.
