Re: maternity allowance

[Sinnomen]

I know IWBU actually...hence have name changed. But would still like other people's opinions.

I run my own business. I have a little baby. When she was born, I took a small amount of time off and applied for, and received, maternity allowance during this time. I need to return to work. We have decided that DH should stay at home with DD. if I was thu one staying at home, I'd be able to continue to receive mat allowance, because DD is under 12 months old. But because he is a man, he can't get it.

This seems so unfair - we are a team, and it just happens that it makes sense for me to go back to work rather than him. It is so tempting to continue to claim the allowance, because I bet no-one would ever check that I'd gone back to work.

I'll cancel the mat allowance, although we could really do with the cash, because it would BU not to - but IANBU to be pissed off about it, right?

YANBU, it's not fair. Nothing you can do though, sorry.

I would continue to claim it, tbh.

This is one of the proposed changes, it will be able to be shared.

I thought that your dh should be able to claim additional paternity allowance?
I'm going back to work after 5 months and my dh is becoming a sahd. He can then claim the remaining 4 months of mat pay that I would have been entitled to.

Does your dh work at the moment? My dh's employer is completely clued up on the process.

I'm sure that the fact you're self employed shouldn't make a difference. Check out the government website before you give up on it.

Sorry cross post - it can be shared already. I'm sure of it.

Nope, there is fuck all if you're self employed (or if your DH is). It's deeply unfair IMO and YANBU to be pissed off about it!

I think it can only be shared if your baby was born after the 3rd of April ( and various other adoption/partner related issues for equality)

I guess your baby was born before April so you've just missed out on the change?

That's a bummer.

I wouldn't claim the allowance if you go back to work. You could get into a lot of trouble if you were caught.

Could you not pay your DH the wage that your business would be paying you so that you are not earning and can continue to claim MA? Or would that be fraud?

If she's a sole trader she doesn't have employees.

If she has a company, I'm pretty sure it would be fraud to pay her DH unless he was actually working for the company.

And there would still be a problem with her claiming the allowance if she was back at work.

Wommer - I think that is only for mat/pat pay, not allowance.
Torylovell - I think that would be fraud, wouldn't it? Since it would be me doing the work. Isn't it the work they care about? The important thing is that I have to work to keep the business going.

Ah, can't you transfer your leave if you claim MA rather than SMP?

That's pretty weird. Why would that make a difference?

Ah in that case that SUCKS!! And is totally unfair.... I cant see why that should make a difference - if you pay NI then surely you should have same rights to the mat/pat money.
YADNBU!!!

Could you not do the work and your husband take all the pay and pay the tax on his name? There must be a way around this have you got an accountant?

There is no way around this that doesn't involve benefit fraud. Dh is self employed and couldn't claim paternity leave pay. It's really unfair to self employed people.

Ah I see, fraud. I'd see an accountant though. I hope you can sort it. I can't see how the revenue would ever find out either but it's dodgy I suppose. So bloody annoying.

God I'd be so tempted to still claim it. I'm self employed and trying for a baby.