Collection

Maternity Allowance: quarterly statistics

Statistics about Maternity Allowance claims.

From:
Department for Work and Pensions
Published
14 August 2013
Last updated
13 August 2024 — See all updates

Suspension of Maternity Allowance statistics from the August 2024 statistical release

A new operational system to record Maternity Allowance cases is currently being developed. As such, Maternity Allowance statistics will be suspended from the quarterly statistics release on 13 August 2024 until data can be extracted from the new system.

Previous Maternity Allowance data came from an estimate based on a 5% sample of Maternity Allowance claims. The new system in development will allow analysts access to 100% of claims, removing the need to estimate. While this system is in development, we are suspending the current Maternity Allowance data. The new system will rectify known data issues with the current 5% system where some breakdowns are unreliable.

As described in the “Notes” tab of each Maternity Allowance Statistics release, these statistics are based on a 5% sample of Maternity Allowance cases, which is then used to estimate the total Maternity Allowance statistics. These statistics are subject to a margin of error which can affect how they should be interpreted. In general terms, the greater the sample size, the smaller the uncertainty of the estimates. From this, a margin of error (confidence interval) is estimated, which indicates the likely range of results that would appear if the same estimate was conducted using a different sample with the same characteristics as the current sample.

A recent review determined that the available sample used to estimate the Maternity Allowance statistics was too small to provide a sufficient level of confidence. The new system will remove the need to estimate, appropriately resolving this issue.

We cannot currently provide a timescale for when the Maternity Allowance data will be reinstated, as work to develop the statistics from the new system is in very early stages. When we can provide more precise information, we will keep users updated via this page.

Please note that in our previously published statistical tables, the estimated total number of Maternity Allowance cases in Great Britain uses a reasonable sample size and can be considered an accurate estimate. Breakdowns beyond this in previous publications should be treated with caution.

Email benefits.statistics@dwp.gov.uk if you have any concerns relating to the loss of these statistics.

For more information on Confidence Intervals, please see the Office for National Statistics’ page on Uncertainty.

Statistics for May 2022

Maternity Allowance statistics for May 2022, due to be released on 15 November 2022, were not published as planned.

Following a data production error, figures were not available, and we were unable to produce any estimates for this quarter. We regret that the loss of Maternity Allowance data for May 2022 represents a permanent gap in the statistical series.

Email benefits.statistics@dwp.gov.uk if you have any concerns relating to the loss of these statistics.

Find contact information and more about DWP statistics on the Statistics at DWP page.

Read more about Maternity Allowance.

Latest release

Previous releases

Updates to this page

Published 14 August 2013
Last updated 13 August 2024 + show all updates

  1. Added information about the suspension of Maternity Allowance statistics from the August 2024 statistical release.

  2. Added a link to the latest quarterly release of Maternity Allowance statistics, data for September to November 2023.

  3. Added a link to the latest quarterly release of Maternity Allowance statistics, data for June to August 2023.

  4. Added a link to the latest quarterly release of Maternity Allowance statistics, data for March to May 2023.

  5. Added a link to the latest quarterly release of Maternity Allowance statistics, data for December 2022 to February 2023.

  6. Added a link to the latest quarterly release of Maternity Allowance statistics, data for September to November 2022.

  7. Added a link to the latest quarterly release of Maternity Allowance statistics, data for June to August 2022.

  8. Added a note that the Maternity Allowance statistics for May 2022 (due to be released on 15 November 2022) will no longer be published as planned.

  9. Added a link to the latest quarterly release of Maternity Allowance statistics, data for December 2021 to February 2022.

  10. Added a link to the latest quarterly release of Maternity Allowance statistics, data for September to November 2021.

  11. Added a link to the latest quarterly release of Maternity Allowance statistics, data for June to August 2021.

  12. Added a link to the latest quarterly release of Maternity Allowance statistics, data for March to May 2021.

  13. Added a link to the latest quarterly release of Maternity Allowance statistics, data for December 2020 to February 2021.

  14. Added a link to the latest quarterly release of Maternity Allowance statistics, data for September to November 2020.

  15. Added a link to the latest quarterly release of Maternity Allowance statistics, data for June to August 2020.

  16. Added a link to the latest quarterly release of Maternity Allowance quarterly statistics, data for March to May 2020.

  17. Added a link to the latest quarterly release of Maternity Allowance statistics, for December 2019 to February 2020.

  18. Added a link to the latest quarterly release of Maternity Allowance statistics, for September to November 2019.

  19. Added a link to the latest quarterly release of Maternity Allowance statistics, with data from June to August 2019.

  20. Added a link to the latest quarterly release of Maternity Allowance statistics, with data from March to May 2019.

  21. Added a link to the latest quarterly release of Maternity Allowance statistics, with data from December 2018 to February 2019.

  22. Added a link to the latest Maternity Allowance statistics, with data from September to November 2018.

  23. Added a link to the latest Maternity Allowance statistics, with data from June to August 2018.

  24. Added latest Maternity Allowance statistics, with data from March to May 2018.

  25. Added latest Maternity Allowance statistics, with data to 28 February 2018.

  26. Added latest Maternity Allowance statistics, with data to November 2017.

  27. Added latest Maternity Allowance statistics (data to August 2017).

  28. Added latest Maternity Allowance statistics (data to May 2017).

  29. Added latest Maternity Allowance statistics (data to February 2017).

  30. Added latest Maternity Allowance statistics (data to November 2016).

  31. Added latest Maternity Allowance statistics (data to August 2016).

  32. Added latest Maternity Allowance statistics (data to May 2016).

  33. Published latest Maternity Allowance statistics (data to February 2016).

  34. Published latest Maternity Allowance statistics (data to November 2015).

  35. Published latest Maternity Allowance statistics (data to August 2015).

  36. Added quarterly statistics for March to May 2015.

  37. Added quarterly statistics for December 2014 to February 2015.

  38. Added quarterly statistics with data for September to November 2014.

  39. Published latest quarterly statistics with data for June to August 2014.

  40. Published latest quarterly statistics with data for March to May 2014.

  41. Published quarterly statistics for the period 1 December 2013 to 28 February 2014. Published link to user questionnaire inviting feedback on Maternity Allowance statistics.

  42. Quarterly statistics for the period 1 September 2013 to 30 November 2013 published and added to the list of documents.

  43. Quarterly statistics for the period 1 June 2013 to 31 August 2013 published and added to the list of documents.

  44. Data on the number of women claiming statutory maternity allowance published

  45. First published.