Maternity Allowance?

[brookeberry]

Hi all, I'm self-employed and run my own business 6 days a week. I've never employed anyone else and have always been present in the business myself (it's creative and personal to me).

I'm due in April and been trying to work out how I'm going to keep my business going whilst possibly being unable to go in for, who knows, possibly 12 weeks?

Someone just mentioned Maternity Allowance to me which I had never realised I may be eligible for. I thought this was just for employed people/people with proper jobs!

Has anyone self-employed had experience of this in the UK? Even if I found some sort of cover and the business still ran, would I still be eligible?

Thanks

[DowntonDiva]

Do you have an accountant? Mines is arranging maternity allowance on my behalf - £139.58 for 39 weeks.

Had a quick google, looks like this is the HMRC page to help with steps in submitting your claim.

www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance/overview

[brookeberry]

Many thanks for the link Downton. I do have an accountant - I'll get in touch with him

[Verkey81]

You don't need an accountant, I did it myself, I'm self employed, I just downloaded the form, filled it in and sent it off. As long as you pay ni class 2 contributions you'll be entitled :)

[Verkey81]

Sorry that should say 'I think' you'll be entitled!

[brookeberry]

Thanks Verkey Yes I'm filling in the form just now and fingers crossed. I am hesitant to contact my accountant - he charges me for asking a question!!!

[Quodlibet]

Yep it's really easy to apply for.

You are allowed to do 10 paid 'Keeping in Touch' days during the period you receive Mat Allowance, though once you start working properly again, even part time, you have to declare in and the Mat Allowance will stop.

[brookeberry]

Ah that's really helpful, thanks quodlibet. Being my own business I'm not going to switch off completely and that's what I'm a little in the dark about. Ta!

[Quodlibet]

No problem. Officially you have to count any day that you do any work as an entire KiT day which seems ridiculous to me (so if I open my email on my phone does that count??) so you have be a bit strategic about how you use/invoice for your KIT days. Not that they check unless you are investigated.

[CarrieLouise25]

I've been self employed for 12 years now, and with my second DC it was easy to claim. Just fill in the claim form and get yourself a MATB1 certificate from the midwife as evidence for pregnancy.

Verkey is right, as long as you have been paying your Class 2 NIC, then you should be entitled.

Pregnant with DC3 now, and have just sent off my claim form for this time. It takes about 2 weeks for a reply.

Good luck with pregnancy, and your MA claim!