Care and support

Incapacity benefit during pregnancy

If you are not entitled to either SMP or maternity allowance, you may qualify for incapacity benefit if you have been working and paid enough national insurance contributions. You will be treated as incapable of work from 6 weeks before the expected week of childbirth until two weeks after the actual date of childbirth, and on any other date when working would cause a serious risk to your health or to the health of the baby.

You do not need to provide medical evidence of incapacity during the period from six weeks before the expected week of childbirth to 2 weeks after the actual week of childbirth. You do need to submit a maternity certificate (MAT B1). Claim incapacity benefit by calling the jobcentre plus contact centre on 0800 055 6688.