ANNEX A: Background on National Insurance for the self-employed Class 2 and securing entitlement to contributory benefit and maternity allowance
10.Class 2 contributions provide the means by which self-employed earners can access social security benefits.
11.Entitlement to the standard weekly rate of MA (currently £138.18) is based on payment of Class 2 contributions in respect of a prescribed period (currently any 13 weeks in the 66 week test period). A self-employed woman is treated as meeting the minimum earnings level if she holds an SEE certificate for the period in question, thus entitling her to the lower weekly MA rate (currently £27).
12.Class 2 contributions are also the means by which a self-employed earner accesses entitlement to contributory benefits such as the State Pension and the contributory strand of employment and support allowance. In addition, payment of Class 2 contributions allows access to contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance for a limited group of people; namely self-employed share fishermen who pay a special rate for Class 2 contributions. A person needs to have a specific number of qualifying years (currently 30) in their working life to receive the full basic State Pension. Class 2 contributions will also count towards entitlement to the new State Pension which will be introduced on 6 April 2016.