She will qualify for maternity allowance, providing:
- she has been employed (or self-employed) for at least 26 weeks (including part-weeks) within the 66 weeks up to and including the week in which the baby is due to be born; and
- she has earned at least £30 a week in at least 13 of those weeks.
Maternity allowance is now payable for up to 39 weeks (previously 26 weeks) at a standard weekly rate of £117.18, or 90% of average weekly earnings if this is less than £117.18.
