Contribution conditions for Maternity Allowance
You must have paid contributions above a minimum threshold for at least three months before the end of the relevant quarter.
To be able to claim the full rate, you must have paid or been credited with enough contributions for each of the months in the relevant quarter.
About relevant quarters
The year is split into four quarters:
- January, February, March (first quarter)
- April, May, June (second quarter)
- July, August, September (third quarter)
- October, November, December (fourth quarter)
How we calculate your entitlement
We calculate your entitlement by looking at your contribution record over a certain period relating to the relevant quarter.
Step one
We look at the date you've chosen to start your Maternity Allowance claim.
Example: the start date you've chosen is 26 March 2015.
Step two
We go back exactly one year from your chosen start date and look at which relevant quarter that date falls in.
Example: we go back a year to 26 March 2014 which is part of the first quarter. You must have paid enough contributions above the minimum threshold for at least three months before the end of March 2014.
Step three
We'll then look at your contribution record during January, February and March 2014 to determine how much you'll receive.
However, if you wanted to continue to work until 2 April 2015, your claim wouldn't actually start until 3 April 2014. The relevant quarter would then be April, May and June 2014.
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