The Social Security (Maternity Allowance) (Work Abroad) Regulations 1987
These Regulations, which come into force on 6th April 1987, enable women who are ordinarily resident in Great Britain but who have worked abroad in the 12 months immediately preceding the 14th week before the expected week of confinement, to satisfy, in specified circumstances, certain of the requirements for a maternity allowance. These requirements are that the woman must have been engaged in employment as an employed or self-employed earner for at least 26 weeks in the 52 weeks preceding the 14th week before the expected week of confinement, and that she must have paid national insurance contributions at the appropriate rate for a similar number of weeks within that period. In particular the Regulations provide that employment in another member State of the European Community will count towards the satisfaction of these requirements except where the woman is entitled to corresponding benefits under the social security system of the country in which she was employed (regulation 2(5)).