Maternity allowance

CPAG

Maternity allowance

Maternity allowance (MA) is a benefit for women who are pregnant or who have recently given birth. It is normally claimed by women who do not qualify for statutory maternity pay (SMP) – eg, self-employed women, those not currently in work or those who have not worked for the same employer for long enough to get SMP. To qualify for MA, the client must have been employed or self-employed for at least 26 of the 66 weeks before the week in which the baby is due, and have had average weekly earnings of at least £30 a week in 13 weeks of this ‘test’ period.

MA is not taxable.

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Debt Advice Handbook Scotland - 1st edition

Written in partnership with Citizens Advice Scotland and Money Advice Scotland, CPAG is delighted to announce the first edition of the Debt Advice Handbook Scotland. Based on CPAG’s best-selling Debt Advice Handbook, it details the stages of the debt advice process in Scotland and the key skills needed to give good advice. No money adviser should be without this essential guide. This online edition is funded by the Scottish government.

The Handbook provides the most comprehensive information needed by advisers on the tools and strategies to help clients with their financial difficulties. It details the key stages of money advice, including interviewing clients, establishing liability, prioritising debts, preparing a financial statement, negotiating with creditors and dealing with sheriff officers. Emphasis is placed on taking due care of vulnerable clients and making sure that any payment arrangements agreed are appropriate. There is a focus on sustainable credit arrangements that do not affect a client’s ability to pay essential living expenses and priority debts.

It is the go-to tool for specialist debt advisers as a first step in accessing primary legislation and regulations and is also a reliable guide and training aid for the new debt adviser. Advisers who undertake debt advice alongside other sorts of advice work or other professional disciplines – such as social workers and housing officers – will find this handbook an indispensable resource.

Fully indexed and cross-referenced to law, official guidance and to court and tribunal decisions, tactical guidance and examples are included throughout.

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CPAG

Print publication date Jun, 2024

This content was last updated:2024-06-27

Word count173,783

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Maternity allowance

Debt Advice Handbook Scotland - 1st edition

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