Self Employed & Pregnant

[Jellybelly888]

Very happy and grateful to be expecting a baby mid-March 2025. This will be my second, but my partner’s first.

I’m self employed as a company director for an online retail business. I used to have staff but due to the economy at the moment and one of them retiring, I now don’t. Taking on new staff wouldn’t be feasible at the moment either. My partner works 3 days a week with me around his other part time consultancy job. Luckily he’s well paid for his consultancy work so we have guaranteed income from that.

Anyway, I plan on being back to work as soon as I can. I’ve had the business for 6 years and it earns us both a good income with a large customer base. Closing the business for a short while wouldn’t be feasible. We don’t have any family support nearby (one family is abroad and the other is 200 miles away). Nursery is an option a couple of days a week when baby is a little older.

Just wanted to see how all you self employed mamas did things in the early weeks and months after having the baby?

I’m even confused if I can claim SMP or paternity pay for my partner (I’m the sole director and he’s an employee).

Thank you!

You could claim Maternity Allowance. You can work up to 10 days before it would stop your MA. I think he could claim paternity leave and pay from your business.

https://www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance

Thank you! My accountant is telling me otherwise for some bizarre reason! I’ll speak to her x

What is your accountant telling you?

Maternity allowance exists for exactly this reason (if you are definitely self employed, and not employed by your own company?). Most SE people can't take a year off work though, as you've already worked out.

No, I’m the director and classed as self employed rather than an employee. My partner is an employee though so I’ll get paternity sorted for him.

Definitely will not be taking any more than 2 weeks off though sadly. Luckily we have a very ‘home from home’ workspace so we will just have to manage with the baby at work between us and work reduced hours.

Accountant was just saying straight up no maternity support at all for self employed persons!