Maternity allowance is a benefit available to women in the United Kingdom who are pregnant or who have recently given birth. Maternity allowance is paid to women who are not entitled to statutory maternity pay (SMP) or who have exhausted their SMP entitlement.

To be eligible for maternity allowance, a woman must have been employed or self-employed for at least 26 of the 66 weeks before the due date of her baby, and she must have earned at least £30 per week on average during that period. Maternity allowance is paid at a rate of £151.20 per week or 90% of the woman's average weekly earnings, whichever is lower.

Maternity allowance is paid for a maximum of 39 weeks, and it can be claimed from 11 weeks before the due date of the baby. To claim maternity allowance, a woman must complete a claim form and provide proof of her employment and earnings.

If you are pregnant or have recently given birth and are considering claiming maternity allowance, it is a good idea to check the eligibility requirements and gather the necessary documentation. You can find more information on the Gov.uk website.