Employment

How much are Maternity Allowance and the Maternity Grant in Gibraltar, and how do I claim them?

Short answer

The Maternity Grant is £700 for each child, and Maternity Allowance is paid fortnightly for up to 18 weeks at £87.64 a week under the latest published legislation. Both are claimed from the Department of Social Security on its own claim forms.

Detailed answer

Maternity Grant

The grant is £700 per child, so twins receive £1,400. It can be paid on the mother's own insurance record or on that of her husband, civil partner or the child's father, but not on both.

The contribution conditions are at least 52 contributions paid since first becoming insured, and at least 40 paid or credited in the last contribution year before the year of the birth. A reduced grant may be paid with at least 13.

Maternity Allowance

The allowance is paid only on the mother's own record, and she must take maternity leave. It normally starts 11 weeks before the expected week of birth, runs for up to 18 weeks, and is not paid for any period of paid work.

  • Employed: at least 26 weeks of contributions as an employee in the 52 weeks ending with the 15th week before the expected week of birth.
  • Self-employed: 26 weeks of self-employed contributions in the same period, plus 26 weeks of additional voluntary contributions. Once you opt in, these must continue for the rest of your self-employed working life.

When and how to claim

  • Allowance: from 11 weeks before the expected week of birth, and within six months.
  • Grant: from 9 weeks before the expected week, and no later than six months after the birth. A claim on the father's record is made after the birth, with the birth certificate.
  • A doctor or midwife completes a certificate of expected confinement on the form. Employers complete a section of the Allowance form.
  • For a claim on a husband's or civil partner's record, include the marriage or civil partnership certificate.

Send completed forms to the Department of Social Security, 79-80 New Harbours Walk, New Harbours. Maternity queries go to [email protected].

Births outside Gibraltar

The grant is not payable if the mother is outside Gibraltar or the Campo district on the date of the birth, unless regulations provide otherwise. Both forms ask about work in the EU, EEA or Switzerland, because those contributions may count.