•Maternity allowance (MA) is a benefit for women who are pregnant or have recently given birth and who are not entitled to statutory maternity pay.

•MA is a non-means-tested benefit.

•You do not need to have paid national insurance (NI) contributions to qualify although, in some circumstances, your entitlement may depend on your spouse’s or civil partner’s NI contribution record and if you are self-employed, your NI contribution record may affect the amount of MA you receive.

•MA is affected by the overlapping benefit rules, so you may not be able to get MA and another earnings-replacement benefit at the same time.

•You may be disqualified from MA if you work.

•MA is administered and paid by the DWP.

•If you disagree with a decision on MA, you can apply for a revision or supersession (see Chapter 56), or appeal against it (see Chapter 57). You must apply for a mandatory reconsideration before you can appeal.