Working whilst on Maternity Leave

[magie73]

I'd like to begin childminding whilst on Maternity leave so that I have work when I give notice.

I have just become registered but want to wait until my lo is born and make sure they are settled before I bring another child/ren into the equations.

What are the legal ramifications of this? How would I charge so that I am not penalised?

Any other advice would be welcome?

As far as I am aware you can only work 10 days (keeping in touch days - but can be in a new job as i checked) without them stopping your maternity money. I suppose you could look after them for free before that but wouldntbe able to charge - i might be wrong...

as far as i understand it fairmum is right

if you start working for another job (unless those 10 keeping in touch days) then ML from 1 job has to stop. You cant be paid ML and work.

If I can be slightly dodgier here, I'd say it depends whether your getting maternity pay from an employer or from the state. When I got employer's mat pay, I did work as a self-employed person which I felt (rightly or wrongly) was totally separate. I was still on leave from the paye job and was paying tax on my earnings as a self-employed person, so wasn't fleecing anybody. However with my second child, I no longer worked paye and got mat pay from the state which i stopped as soon as my 10 KIT days were used up. i know all the pay comes from the state really, but they're much more likely to suss if it's direct.

You can receive smp as an employed person and still work self employed

You can still get SMP while working as self employed, but you should check your contract with your employer and their maternity leave procedures to see if there are any implications (you may have to notify them or even seek their permission, although I'm not sure if they can refuse).

You cannot get MA while working, except for 10 Keeping in Touch days.

Thank you.

I was thinking of waiting until the SMP kicks in (I think it's only £100 per week) and start then.

I would be giving notice to my employer so wouldn't be state funds.

I was hoping it was like having a second job.