DWP · Official form

MA1, Maternity Allowance claim form

MA1 is the claim form for Maternity Allowance, the payment for people who cannot get Statutory Maternity Pay. Fill in the official DWP PDF below and download it.

Fill out MA1 in the editor Download the blank PDF Quick fill on this page

This is the genuine DWP PDF, unmodified. Source: DWP official page.

What is MA1?

Maternity Allowance is paid by the Department for Work and Pensions for up to 39 weeks. GOV.UK says you may be able to get it if you are employed but cannot get Statutory Maternity Pay, are self employed, have recently stopped working, or take part in unpaid work for the business of your spouse or civil partner.

The MA1 collects your employment and earnings history over the test period before your baby is due, along with your due date and bank details. You can claim once you have been pregnant for 26 weeks, and payments can start any time between the 11th week before the baby is due and the day after the birth.

Who files MA1?

Employees whose employer has refused Statutory Maternity Pay and issued form SMP1
Self employed people who have been paying Class 2 National Insurance or have gaps in their record
People who changed or left a job during pregnancy and do not qualify for SMP
People doing unpaid work in the business of a spouse or civil partner who is self employed

How to fill out MA1

Fill in your personal details, including your National Insurance number and the baby’s due date.
Set out your work in the test period: employers, dates worked, and any self employment.
Enter your earnings for the weeks the form asks about, and say whether you were refused Statutory Maternity Pay.
Give your bank or building society details and the date you want your Maternity Allowance to start.
Download and print the completed form, sign it, and post it with your MATB1 certificate or midwife’s letter and your original payslips to the Maternity Allowance address printed on the form.

Worth knowing: The form asks for original payslips and your MATB1 certificate. Send copies of anything you cannot replace only if the notes allow it, and keep a copy of the completed claim for your own records.

Quick fill MA1 on this page

Prefer to see the form itself while you type? Open MA1 in the editor to fill it on the actual pages, add a signature, and download.

These are the form's own fields, in the order they appear on the pages. Fill in what you know; anything left blank stays a fillable field in the PDF, so you can finish it in any PDF reader. Nothing you type here is sent to DWP.

Page 2 19 fields

Title

First name

Middle names, if you have any

Last name

National Insurance (N I) number

If you do not know your NI number, have€you ever had one or used one at any time?

A phone number we can contact you on

All other surnames or family names you have used or have been known by

Date of birth D D / M M / Y Y Y Y

First line of your address

Second line of your address

Third line of your address

Your address postcode

Have you lived at any other addresses in the last 3 years?

First line of your address

Second line of your address

Third line of your address

Your address postcode

Your email address, if you have one

Page 3 7 fields

What is the baby’s due date? D D / M M / Y Y Y Y

If your baby has already been born, please tell us the date of birth. D D / M M / Y Y Y Y

Baby's first name

Baby's middle names

Baby's last name

Was your baby born in the United Kingdom (UK)?

If your baby's birth was regisered in the UK, what is the system number for the baby's details you gave at question 14?

Page 4 8 fields

Start date of the week that includes the date you expect to have your baby. D D / M M / Y Y Y Y

End date of the week that includes the date you expect to have your baby. D D / M M / Y Y Y Y

What is the first day of your Test Period? Use the calculator or the table that comes with this form DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

What is the last day of your Test Period? Use the calculator or the table that comes with this form DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

What date does the 15th week before the week the baby is due start on? Use the Test Period calculator or the table that comes with this

Did you work for an employer during this 15th week?

If no, tell us why not

Are you getting or going to get Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)?

Page 5 12 fields

If no, tell us why not

Have you given your employer a MAT B1 or other acceptable medical evidence of pregnancy?

If yes, what date did you do this? D D / M M / Y Y Y Y

Are you a company director?

During your Test Period, are you or have you been employed?

Employer 1 - Your employer's name in full

First line of employer 1 address

Second line of employer 1 address

Third line of employer 1 address

Employer 1 postcode

A phone number we can contact employer 1 on

Date employment 1 started DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Page 6 21 fields

Date employment 1 ended DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Employer 1 - Your payroll, employee, clock or work staff number for employer 1

Tell us how often you get paid

Did you work for any other employer during your Test Period?

Employer 2 - Your employer's name in full

First line of employer 2 address

Second line of employer 2 address

Third line of employer 2 address

Employer 2 postcode

A phone number we can contact employer 1 on

Date employment 2 started DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Date employment 2 ended DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Employer 2 - Your payroll, employee, clock or work staff number for employer 2

Tell us how often you get paid

Did you work for any other employer during your Test Period?

Employer 3 - Your employer's name in full

First line of employer 3 address

Second line of employer 3 address

Third line of employer 3 address

Employer 3 postcode

A phone number we can contact employer 1 on

Page 7 19 fields

Date employment 3 started DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Date employment 3 ended DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Employer 3 - Your payroll, employee, clock or work staff number for employer 2

Tell us how often you get paid

What is your planned last day of work? D D / M M / Y Y Y Y

Have you stopped work to have your baby?

What date did you last work? DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Will you be taking any annual leave after your last working day?

If yes, when will your annual leave end? D D / M M / Y Y Y Y

Did you get any sick pay after you last worked?

If yes, what date did you get sick pay from DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

If yes, what date did you get sick pay to DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

If no, what was your sickness reason?

Was your sickness pregnancy-related?

Are you currently on sick leave?

If yes, what date did your sick leave start? D D / M M / Y Y Y Y

Have you started your maternity leave yet?

If yes, what date did your maternity leave start? D D / M M / Y Y Y Y

Date you want your Maternity Allowance payments to start DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Page 8 18 fields

Have you worked for an agency within your Test Period?

Name of agency 1 in full

First line of agency 1's address

Second line of agency's address

Third line of agency's address

Agency's postcode

Agency 1 phone number

Date you registered with the agency DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Date your contract ended DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Do you still have a contract with the agency?

Date your contract started DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Did you register with any other agencies during your Test Period?

Name of agency 2 in full

First line of agency 2's address

Second line of agency's address

Third line of agency's address

Agency's postcode

Agency 2's phone number

Page 9 16 fields

Date you registered with the agency DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Date your contract ended DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Do you still have a contract with the agency?

Date your contract started DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Date you last worked for the agency DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Did you get any sick pay after you last worked?

Date you got paid sick pay from DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Date you got paid sick pay to DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

If no, what was your sickness reason?

Was your sickness pregnancy-related?

Date you plan to stop work to have the baby DD / M M / Y Y Y YD

Have you stopped work to have your baby?

Date you stopped work to have the baby DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Will you be taking annual leave after your last working day?

If yes, when will your annual leave end? D D / M M / Y Y Y Y

Date you want your Maternity Allowance payments to start DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Page 10 11 fields

Are you or were you self-employed during your Test Period?

What date did you register as self-employed with HMRC? DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Date your self-employment ended DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Are you still self-employed?

Date you plan to stop work to have the baby DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Have you stopped work to have your baby?

Date you stopped work to have the baby DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Date you want your Maternity Allowance payments to start DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Are you or were you doing any unpaid work for your self-employed partner’s business in your Test€Period?

Is your partner a salaried director of the business?

Date you started doing unpaid work for your self-employed partner's business DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Page 11 14 fields

Have you stopped doing any unpaid work for your self-employed partner’s business?

Date you stopped doing unpaid work for your spouse or civil partner's self-employed business DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Did you stop doing any unpaid work for€your self-employed partner’s business€due€to your€pregnancy?

Did you stop doing any unpaid work for your self-employed partner’s business due€to sickness?

If no, what was your sickness reason?

Was your sickness pregnancy-related?

Date you plan to stop doing unpaid work for your partner's self-employed business DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

What duties or activities did you or do you do to support your self-employed partner's business?

Date you did unpaid work from DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Date you did unpaid work to DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Date you did unpaid work from DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Date you did unpaid work to DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Date you did unpaid work from DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Date you did unpaid work to DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Page 12 12 fields

Your partner's title

Your partner's last name, in full

All your partner's other names in full

Your partner's National Insurance number

First line of your partner's address

Second line of your partner's address

Third line of your partner's address

Your partner's postcode

Date your marriage or civil partnership started DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

The country where your marriage or civil partnership took place

Has your marriage ended in divorce or has your civil partnership been dissolved?

Date your marriage ended or your civil partnership dissolved DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Page 13 13 fields

Date your partner became self-employed DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Is your partner registered as self-employed with HMRC?

What is their registration number or Unique Tax Reference number?

If your partner is no longer registered as self-employed, what date did they end their registered self-employment with HMRC? DD / M M / Y Y

Is your partner still registered as self-employed?

First line of the address for your self-employed partner's business

Second line of the address

Third line of the address

Postcode of self-employed partner's business

Does your self-employed partner have a business website?

If yes, what is the website address?

What is the business of your self-employed partner? Tell us what is or was produced or sold, or what services are or were delivered. We may

If we need to contact your partner, do you give us permission?

Page 14 18 fields

Were you outside the UK at any time during your Test Period (the dates you worked out at questions 18 and 19)?

Which countries did you spend time in? Country 1

Date you were abroad from DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Date you were abroad to DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Which countries did you spend time in? Country 2

Date you were abroad from DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Date you were abroad to DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Whilst outside the UK, were you getting any benefits in a foreign country?

Did you work outside the UK at any time during your Test Period (the dates you worked out at questions 18 and 19)?

Whilst outside the UK, were you employed there by an overseas employer?

Whilst outside the UK, were you employed there by a UK employer?

Whilst outside the UK, were you self-employed there?

Whilst outside the UK, were you doing any unpaid work for€your€self-employed partner’s UK business?

Whilst outside the UK, were you the partner or family member of an HM Armed Forces person posted there?

What periods did you pay National Insurance contributions from? DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

What periods did you pay National Insurance contributions to? DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

What periods did you pay National Insurance contributions from? DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

What periods did you pay National Insurance contributions to? DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Page 15 22 fields

Please give us details of your employers while you were abroad. Name of employer 1

First line of employer 1's address

Second line of employer 1's address

Third line of employer 1's address

Employer 1's postcode

A phone number we can contact employer 1 on

Date this employment started DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

What is your planned last day of work? D D / M M / Y Y Y Y

Has your employment ended?

Date you last worked DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Will you be taking annual leave after your last working day?

When will your annual leave end? D D / M M / Y Y Y Y

Your payroll, employee, clock or works number

Tell us how often you get paid

Do you have another employer to tell us about?

Employer's name, in full. Employer 2

First line of employer 2's address

Second line of employer 2's address

Third line of employer 2's address

Employer 2's postcode

A phone number we can contact employer 2 on

Date employment 2 started DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Page 16 18 fields

What is your planned last day of work? D D / M M / Y Y Y Y

Has your employment ended?

What date did you last work DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

Your payroll, employee, clock or works number

Tell us how often you get paid

Are you or your partner getting any other benefits?

Name of benefit 1

Who claimed benefit 1?

Name of benefit 2

Who claimed benefit 2?

Name of benefit 3

Who claimed benefit 3?

Name of benefit 4

Who claimed benefit 4?

Name of benefit 5

Who claimed benefit 5?

Name of benefit 6

Who claimed benefit 6?

Page 17 8 fields

How often do you want us to pay your Maternity Allowance?

Name of the account holder

Name of the bank or building society

Sort code first and second numbers

Sort code third and fourth numbers

Sort code fifth and sixth numbers

Account number. This must be between 6 and 10 numbers

Building society roll or reference number

Page 18 1 fields

Use this space to tell us anything else you think we might need to know

Page 19 5 fields

If you are claiming before the baby is born

If you are claiming after the baby is born

If your baby is stillborn

Page 20 7 fields

If you were employed by an employer in the 15th week before the week the baby is due and you cannot get Statutory Maternity Pay

If you have worked for an employer

If you are a company director

If you were not employed or self-employed, but doing unpaid work for your self-employed partner’s business

If you are divorced or your civil partnership has been dissolved

Page 21 8 fields

Today's date DD / M M / Y Y Y Y

If you have filled in this form for someone else, tell us your name in full

First line of your address if you filled in this form for someone else

Second line of your address if you filled in this form for someone else

Third line of your address if you filled in this form for someone else

Your postcode if you filled in this form for someone else

Your National Insurance number if you filled in this form for someone else

Tell us why you are signing this form for someone else

Lock the PDF after filling (values become permanent, fields are removed)

Processed on our own servers, never sent to a third-party service. Files are deleted automatically after two hours, and you can delete them sooner from the result screen.

Frequently asked questions

When should I claim?

You can apply as soon as you have been pregnant for 26 weeks. Claim within 3 months of the date you want Maternity Allowance to start, or you may lose some of the payment.

What evidence do I need to send?

Proof of the due date, which is usually the MATB1 certificate or a letter from your doctor or midwife, plus original payslips covering the test period. Include form SMP1 if your employer refused Statutory Maternity Pay.

How long does a decision take?

GOV.UK says you should get a decision within 20 working days of your claim being received.

MA1, Maternity Allowance claim form

What is MA1?

Who files MA1?

How to fill out MA1

Quick fill MA1 on this page

Frequently asked questions

Related forms

SF200: Funeral Expenses Payment claim form for an adult

CH2: Child Benefit claim form

DLA1A Child: Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children claim form