Maternity Allowance for Self-Employed Beauty Workers

You are self-employed. You are pregnant. You do not get Statutory Maternity Pay - that is only for employees. But you are not left with nothing. You can claim Maternity Allowance instead.

This guide covers exactly what you are entitled to, how to claim it, and how to plan around it so your business and finances survive.

Quick Rule of Thumb

If you are registered as self-employed and have paid Class 2 National Insurance for at least 13 of the 66 weeks before your due date, you can get Maternity Allowance. Up to £184.03 per week for up to 39 weeks. You do not need to close your business to claim it.

Tip for new starters: If you have just registered as self-employed, check your Class 2 NI record straight away. Paying 13 weeks of Class 2 NI at £3.50 per week (£45.50 total) unlocks over £7,000 in Maternity Allowance. Do not wait until you are pregnant to find out you have a gap.

Maternity Allowance vs Statutory Maternity Pay

These are two different things. Here is the difference:

As a self-employed beauty worker, you claim Maternity Allowance. Not SMP.

How Much You Get

For 2025-26, Maternity Allowance is:

£184.03 per week or 90% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is lower.

This is paid for up to 39 weeks.

At the full rate, that is:

• £184.03 per week
• £798.13 per month (approximately)
• £7,177.17 for the full 39 weeks

If your average weekly earnings are less than £184.03, you get 90% of your earnings instead. For example, if your average weekly earnings are £150, you would get £135 per week.

Maternity Allowance is not taxable. You do not need to include it on your Self Assessment tax return.

Eligibility: Do You Qualify?

To qualify for Maternity Allowance as a self-employed person, you must meet ALL of these conditions:

1. You are (or were recently) self-employed

You must have been registered as self-employed with HMRC for at least 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before your expected due date. The 26 weeks do not need to be consecutive.

The 66-week period is called the "test period." It starts 66 weeks before your due date and runs up to the week before your due date.

2. You have paid Class 2 National Insurance

You must have paid Class 2 NI contributions for at least 13 of those 66 weeks. This is the one that catches people out.

Class 2 NI for 2025-26: £3.50 per week (2025-26 rate).

If you pay your NI through Self Assessment (which most self-employed people do), check that you have actually paid it, not just been assessed for it. If you have gaps, you can make voluntary payments to fill them - but do it before you claim, not after.

3. You are at least 26 weeks pregnant

You can claim from 26 weeks pregnant (the 26th week of pregnancy). You cannot claim before this.

4. You have stopped working (or are about to)

Your Maternity Allowance period can start from 11 weeks before your due date (the 29th week of pregnancy). It must start no later than the day after the birth.

What If You Have Not Paid Enough Class 2 NI?

This is the most common reason self-employed beauty workers miss out on Maternity Allowance. If you have not paid Class 2 NI for at least 13 weeks in the test period, you may be able to:

1. Make voluntary Class 2 NI payments. Contact HMRC and ask about paying voluntary contributions to fill the gap. At £3.50 per week (2025-26 rate), 13 weeks costs just £44.85. That £44.85 unlocks up to £7,177.17 in Maternity Allowance. It is the best return on investment you will ever get.

2. Check if you already qualify. If you have been self-employed for a while and have been paying NI through Self Assessment, you may already have enough weeks. Call HMRC on 0300 200 3500 to check your NI record.

3. Act now if you are planning a pregnancy. If you are thinking about getting pregnant in the next year or two, make sure your Class 2 NI is up to date. Do not leave it until you are already pregnant to find out you have a gap.

How to Claim

When to Claim

You can claim from 26 weeks pregnant (the 26th week of pregnancy). Do not leave it too late - the process takes a few weeks.

How to Claim

1. Get the MA1 form. Download it from gov.uk or pick one up from your local Jobcentre Plus.
2. Fill it in. You will need:
   • Your National Insurance number
   • Your expected due date (from your MATB1 certificate)
   • Details of your self-employment
   • Your bank or building society details
3. Get your MATB1 certificate. Your midwife or doctor will give you this. You can get it from 20 weeks pregnant, but it is usually issued around week 20-26.
4. Send the form and MATB1 to the address on the form, or take them to your local Jobcentre Plus.
5. Wait for a decision. You should hear back within 24 working days. If approved, payments start from the date you choose (no earlier than 11 weeks before your due date).

What If Your Claim Is Rejected?

If your claim is rejected, you can:

• Ask for a mandatory reconsideration (within one month of the decision)
• Appeal to a tribunal if the reconsideration is unsuccessful
• Contact Citizens Advice for help with the process

Can You Work While Claiming Maternity Allowance?

Yes, but with limits.

You are allowed up to 10 "Keeping in Touch" (KIT) days during your Maternity Allowance period. On these days, you can work without it affecting your payment.

After 10 KIT days, any day you work will result in that week's Maternity Allowance being stopped.

What counts as "work"?

• Seeing clients counts as work
• Doing your accounts counts as work
• Answering business emails or messages probably counts as work
• Posting on social media for your business is a grey area - the DWP has not been specific, but be cautious

Practical tips:

• Use your KIT days strategically - perhaps for your best-paying clients or essential business tasks
• Keep a record of which days you work during your MA period
• If in doubt about whether something counts as work, err on the side of caution

Planning Your Maternity Leave

Financially

Maternity Allowance is significantly less than most beauty workers earn. At £184.03 per week, you need to plan:

• Start saving early. Even £50 per week in the months before your due date builds a cushion.
• Reduce your fixed costs. If you rent a chair, can you negotiate a reduced rate or pause during your leave? Some agreements allow this. Check your contract.
• Check your other entitlements. You may also be eligible for:
  • Universal Credit (to top up your income)
  • Sure Start Maternity Grant (£500 one-off payment if you are on certain benefits and it is your first child, or you already have children and are having a multiple birth)
  • Council Tax Reduction
  • Healthy Start vouchers (for food and milk)
• Talk to your mortgage lender or landlord early if you think you will struggle with payments.

Your Clients

• Tell your regular clients well in advance. Give them at least 4-6 weeks' notice.
• Recommend alternatives. Suggest another stylist or therapist they can see while you are away. Your clients will appreciate it, and they are more likely to come back to you.
• Set an out-of-office message on your booking system, social media, and phone.
• Consider a "return date." Even if it is approximate, telling clients "I plan to be back around [month]" helps them stay connected.

Your Insurance

• Tell your insurer you are taking a break. Most policies can be paused or reduced during maternity leave, saving you money.
• Check your policy terms. Some insurers require notification within a certain period. Do not just stop paying and assume you are covered when you come back.
• If you do any KIT days, make sure your insurance is active for those days. Working without insurance - even for one day - is a risk.

Your Chair Rental

• Check your rental agreement. Does it allow you to take a break? Is there a notice period? Can you sub-let your chair?
• Negotiate. Some salon owners will pause or reduce your rent during maternity leave, especially if you plan to come back. It is worth asking.
• Get any agreement in writing. A text or email is fine. Do not rely on a verbal promise.

COSHH Considerations While Pregnant

If you work in hair or beauty, you handle chemicals every day. Some of these may pose risks during pregnancy.

Products to be cautious about:

• Hair dye and bleach - Some contain chemicals (such as ammonia, PPD, and formaldehyde) that should be used with extra caution during pregnancy. The evidence on risk is not conclusive, but minimising exposure is sensible.
• Keratin/Brazilian blowdry treatments - Many contain formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing chemicals. These should be avoided during pregnancy.
• Acrylic and gel nail products - Some contain chemicals that require good ventilation. Ensure your workspace is well-ventilated.
• Cleaning products - Some salon cleaning chemicals are irritants. Wear gloves and ensure ventilation.

What to do:

• Talk to your GP or midwife about the specific products you use. Take the product labels or safety data sheets with you.
• Check the COSHH data sheets for your products. These list the hazards and any pregnancy-related warnings.
• Improve ventilation in your workspace.
• Wear gloves and consider a mask for products with strong fumes.
• Delegate certain treatments to someone else if possible.
• If you are employed (not self-employed), your employer has a legal obligation to do a pregnancy risk assessment and make adjustments. If you are self-employed, you are responsible for your own health and safety - but the same principles apply.

Shared Parental Leave and Pay

If you are self-employed, Shared Parental Leave does not apply to you - it is only for employees. However, your partner (if they are employed) may be able to take Shared Parental Leave and Pay based on your Maternity Allowance entitlement.

This works by you ending your Maternity Allowance early and your partner's employer providing Shared Parental Pay for the remaining weeks. This can give your family more flexibility. Check gov.uk for the detailed rules.

Paternity and Partner Entitlements

If you are the non-birthing partner and self-employed, you do not get Statutory Paternity Pay. You may be able to claim:

• Maternity Allowance (if you are the birth parent)
• Universal Credit to supplement your income during time off
• Nothing specific for paternity if you are self-employed - this is a gap in the system

If your partner is employed, they may get Statutory Paternity Pay from their employer.

What To Do Next

1. Check your Class 2 NI record. Call HMRC on 0300 200 3500 or check online at gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record.
2. If you have gaps, pay voluntary Class 2 NI immediately. 13 weeks at £3.50 = £45.50 (2025-26 rate). Do not miss out on £7,000+ because of a £45.50 gap.
3. Download the MA1 form from gov.uk and familiarise yourself with it.
4. Get your MATB1 certificate from your midwife (from 20 weeks).
5. Start saving now. Even small amounts help bridge the income gap.
6. Talk to your insurer, landlord/salon owner, and clients about your plans.
7. Review your COSHH products and talk to your midwife about any concerns.

Tip for new starters: If you are in your first year of self-employment and planning a family, set up a direct debit for your Class 2 NI contributions now. It is the single most important thing you can do to protect your Maternity Allowance eligibility.

Who To Contact

• Maternity Allowance claims (Jobcentre Plus) - 0800 055 6688 (Free)
• HMRC - 0300 200 3500 (Free) - National Insurance queries
• HMRC Self Assessment - 0300 200 3310 (Free)
• Gov.uk MA1 form - gov.uk/maternity-allowance/how-to-claim (Free)
• Citizens Advice - 0800 144 8848 (Free) - citizensadvice.org.uk - benefits advice
• MoneyHelper - 0800 138 7777 (Free) - budgeting and benefits guidance
• Maternity Action - maternityaction.org.uk (Free) - specialist charity for maternity rights
• HSE - hse.gov.uk (Free) - health and safety guidance for pregnant workers

Sources

• Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992
• Gov.uk Maternity Allowance guidance
• HMRC Class 2 National Insurance guidance
• HSE guidance on new and expectant mothers at work
• Maternity Action factsheets
• ACAS guidance on maternity rights

Related Guides

• Worker Status: What Rights Do You Have?
• COSHH for Mobile and Home-Based Workers
• Closing or Pausing Your Business
• Insurance for Chair Renters
• Discrimination and Harassment: Your Rights as a Chair Renter

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