If you are self employed and on maternity leave can you do any paid work at all - like the 'keeping in touch' days that an employee might have?

[Sunshinetoast]

Hi, hoping someone can help me with this one.

I'm self employed and pregnant. I want to take at least six months leave, and I'm fortunate that I have a big project that will end just before I'm due to take leave and another that can start around the time I'd like to go back. But there is another client that I do the odd day for here and there and I'd like to maintain that relationship if possible.

What I'd like to do is say not work at all for three months and then do about a day a month for this client for the next three to four months before starting back properly. I think I remember that if you are employed you are allowed a certain number of 'keeping in touch days' while on leave. Can self employed people do the same thing?

Obviously its only an issue for maternity allowance - can I claim it while working the odd day?

[BetsyBoop]

you can do the same 10 KIT days with MA, see here

[Sunshinetoast]

Thanks, your searching skills are better than mine! I tried the job centre plus site but didn't manage to find that. And when I called the person I asked seemed very confused.....

[BetsyBoop]

glad to help, didn't need to search as got MA last year and had the link saved.