Maternity Rights for SE

[PaddyPawsPetServices]

(not for me LOL )

Would anyone here happen to know what maternity entitlements a self employed woman would recieve?

Sole trader 2 years if that makes any difference

[KidsBeeHappy]

Statutory Maternity Allowance, rather than SMP.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/DG_10018869

[PaddyPawsPetServices]

thank you for that.

Do you know if there is anything else that she will be entitled to?

[KidsBeeHappy]

There are some grants around at present, my sister is Pregnant at the moment, and I think the Sure Start grant has been extended to anyone on WFTC?

It is best to take advice though, because i think there is a funny in there that if you claim SMA then you're unable to claim any other types of benefits. Which may not suit.

[PaddyPawsPetServices]

booger, right Il pass on the info and get her to go and find out from the correct place ( CAB/Jobcentre? )

ta very much Boxby xx

[Bollotti]

You need to complete a MATB1 form. Obtain this from your local job centre.

I think the allowance is around £104.00 per week.

You can claim from 21 weeks pregnant until baby 6 months old.

[Zeno]

You have to be aware of the limitation in your work that is applied to.

This can be difficult for the self employed to manage.

[KreativeJuice]

You need the MatB1 form as above, but the form you need to claim MA is MA1, Downloadable.
In addition its worth doing a search for the Decision Makers guide which tells you all the cans and cannots according the guys that make the decision. This also helps when they tell you that you can't claim if you are working at all. You are allowed 10 days keeping in touch days, after that any work you do is a detriment to your allowance.

Seems bonkers that they want you to work and keep your business running paying tax, yet they make it difficult to do that when they take away the allowance when you do work.

Ask me how I know? couple of years ago I went through the same, ended up working 1 day a week and losing some MA, worth it to keep the business running.

But def get the guide and refer to that went the spotty kid at the office tells you any work you do will stop the MA.

[mslouise]

I hope no one minds this being brought up again. But...

KreativeJuice (or anyone else that would know), is it possible to come to an agreement that you would work one day a week after (say) a full month off ? Do you know what way that would impact on MA payment - I'm hoping that if you normally worked 5 days a week and worked 1 day for a period of time that you would still receive 4/5 of MA for each week. I'm not hopeful though !

Thanks in advance