New mums taking time off work to look after their new babies could get an extra £617 from this month if they take full maternity leave entitlement.
The benefit Maternity Allowance rose by 10.1% on April 10, from £156.66 a week to £172.48, an extra £15.82 a week, or £616.98 over the full 39 weeks they are entitled to claim. Maternity Allowance is a benefit designed to help mums who don't qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay at work and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) expects the move will benefit around 40,000 mums this year.
Working mums who can claim Statutory Maternity Pay from their employer have also seen an identical 10.1% rise in payments to £172.48, although they may get less depending on their salary. Whether you get Maternity Pay or Allowance depends upon whether you are employed or self-employed and how long you have worked for your employer.
