Maternity Allowance 2026/27
Maternity Allowance: a practical planning guide if Statutory Maternity Pay does not apply.
Maternity Allowance can be relevant for self-employed people and some workers who do not qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay. For budgeting, the important thing is to model it separately rather than treating it as SMP.
How much can Maternity Allowance be?
For 2026/27, the standard maximum Maternity Allowance rate is £194.32 a week. The amount you actually receive depends on your circumstances and can be lower.
It can normally be paid for up to 39 weeks. Official eligibility rules differ from SMP, particularly for self-employed people and those with changing work histories.
Why self-employed planning needs a different route
Self-employed income may not stop as neatly as an employee's salary, and business costs can continue while personal drawings fall. A useful maternity plan should therefore start from realistic personal take-home income rather than turnover.
Bump & Balance lets self-employed users enter a normal take-home average and then use a Maternity Allowance planning estimate for the leave period.
Do not assume the maximum rate until you have checked
The maximum is useful for scenario planning, but entitlement can depend on employment/self-employment history, earnings and National Insurance circumstances. Use the official Maternity Allowance service for the final eligibility decision.
Official sources
For entitlement and legal rules, always check the latest official guidance.