Are any of you ladies self employed or freelance?

[ss79]

I run a small (just me) online business and also work freelance doing research. I haven't told the company most of my research work comes from that I'm pregnant, they are abroad and obviously I get no type of maternity pay from them anyway. Not sure if I should/have to even tell them.

Also does anyone know if I earn from my onlinbe biz/or freelance research while I'm on maternity leave if I can still get maternity pay from the gov or is it stopped.

If anyone else is self employed or freelance I'd really love to hear how you're handling your maternity situation. Have lots of friends with babies but none of them have been in my situation so noone knows. Thanks everyone. xx

 

[SunnyGirl]

Hey hun
I am self-employed part-time, but I get SMP from my other employers.
I know TraceyM on here is self-employed so maybe drop her a line.
I have to call the Jobcentre in a mo because it might actually be better for me to claim SMA rather than SMP cos my employers are real bstrds (sorry for language) and messing me about over everything ugh.
Maybe give them a call.
Here's the website I'm struggling to understand
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTa...ort/Expectingorbringingupchildren/DG_10018869
Sorry - not been much help!
xx

 

[Sarah13]

I'm sure you can get something but you need to prove your earnings. I was looking at this as I have a small online business but it's probably not worth me claiming as I don't earn much (I'm a student too so don't work full time) and I think I'll just keep things running when I have the baby.

 

[SunnyGirl]

I've just seen that you can do 10 days' work in your SMA period - called keeping in touch days xx

 

[scandicmum85]

I wonder the same, I do my own small business just started up, not sure how it works, but for now Im just planning on working straight after I had the baby x

 

[EmmBee123]

My OH and I are both self employed. Fortunately I qualify for SMA as I can't get SMP.
I'm planning my current workload so that all of my current contracts will be completed by the time I'm 8 months, have no idea what I'm doing once baby is here, am hoping to just carry on after a few months but to do a few hours a day.

 

[ss79]

thanks everyone for the replies, glad to hear other people are in same boat. Will take a look at that website SunnyGirl and glad to hear about the 10 days you're allowed to work. I wonder if theres a limit you can earn before declaring? I better get reading, thanks again. xx

 

[SunnyGirl]

I think you have to declare no matter what you're earning, but if you don't earn enough (think it's c. £5k pa) then you can get a small earnings exemption cert. However, if you do that then you won't have to pay NI class 2s, which is what you need to be paying in order to get the full SMA!

I find it all a bit confoozing, but yep keep reading! And call the actual Jobcentre Plus line cos they're fab at letting you know how it all translates! xxx