Hi everyone, 

I am 7 1/2 months pregnant and due to take maternity allowance (maternity pay for the self employed) soon and was wondering if anyone knows anything about it?  How to apply?  When etc.

Also, if you are getting maternity allowance does that mean you can't make any money on your business at all because I can't forsee how I will be able to go six months without doing some work and keeping things ticking over.

Any ideas/feedback?

Cheers!  Alli 

Hi Alli

Have a read of this:

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/technical-guidance/ni17a-a-guide-to-maternity/maternity-allowance-ma/#maelig

To get it you have to be earning over £30 a week so yes, you can carry on working. There are other elegibility criteria too though.

Suzanne

www.lawyers4mumpreneurs.com

email: support@lawyers4mumpreneurs.com

You won't be able to choose between statutory maternity pay and maternity allowance. The rule is if you are eligible for statutory maternity pay, this is what you will recieve.  Maternity allowance is only for people not eligible for statutory maternity pay.
 
Have you spoken to your employer about statutory maternity pay?  To be eligible you You must have been employed by your employer for a continuous period of at least 26 weeks into the qualifying week (which is the 15th week before the week in which the baby is due).
 
 
 
You must also have been earning at least £95 per week gross.
 
If for some reason you aren't eligible for this....then you apply for maternity allowance.  It's less money anyway.
 
If you do take statuatory maternity pay, you are still allowed to work in a self employed capacity.  You aren't allowed to work for another employer though.  If you do get another job you are obliged to tell the company paying you statuatory materntiy pay and they will stop paying it to you.

Posted by Mary Lonsdale, Accounting guru