Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Yasmin Qureshi (Labour) on Monday, 12 May 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 14 May 2025. It was answered by Andrew Western (Labour) on Monday, 19 May 2025 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Maternity Allowance

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to review the treatment of Maternity Allowance as unearned income when calculating means-tested benefits.

Answer

We want new mothers to be able to take time away from work in the later stages of their pregnancy and in the months following childbirth, in the interests of their own and their baby’s health and wellbeing.

Maternity Allowance is a benefit paid by the State, for those who cannot get Statutory Maternity Pay, and is classed as unearned income for Universal Credit purposes. As such, in determining the entitlement to Universal Credit, Maternity Allowance is deducted pound for pound from the total value of the award.

Where an individual claims Universal Credit, their award is adjusted to take account of other financial support that the customer is already receiving – including earnings, other income and benefits. This principle applies to other benefits: for example, the same approach is applied to new style Jobseeker’s Allowance and new style Employment and Support Allowance.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
51343
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Income Social security benefits Maternity allowance
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk