Maternity allowance if self employed

[DuRezidal]

I was wondering if anyone knew if I was entitled to any maternity allowance being self employed?

I have my own business but it is an equestrian role and i am going to struggle having much time off when the baby arrives due to finances.

Are there any options?

www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance/eligibility depends on whether you make class 2 NI contributions

If you have any time off, and pay NI, it's worth filling the form out- it's actually far easier to fill out the form for being SE rather than employed but not eligible for SMP

Not going to contribute much to your finances though but does ensure your NI contributions are kept up

It's worth filling out the form but you have to have some proof of income within like the first two months of baby being conceived (PAYE). Because I got married and went on my honeymoon around then I only had an invoice or two I didn't get a dime :-( please definitely worth doing the forms and plus trying to a meeting with your local Jobcentre as you can get a Maternity Grant. This is like a one-off payment of £500 when the baby is born to help xxx

I didn't have to provide ANY proof of income being self employed gothbaby

And Maternity grant is only applicable if in receipt of certain benefits for a first child

I didn't have to prove income - the form is
pretty self explanatory. Says it is payable to those who are S/E, if:

In the 66 weeks before your baby’s due, you must also have been:
• employed or self-employed for at least 26 weeks
• earning (or classed as earning) £30 a week or more in at least 13 weeks - the weeks don’t have to be together

To get the full amount of Maternity Allowance, you must have paid Class 2 National Insurance for at least 13 of the 66 weeks before your baby’s due.

If you haven’t paid enough Class 2 National Insurance to get the full rate (£140.98 a week), you’ll get £27 a week for 39 weeks. You still need to meet all the other eligibility criteria to get this amount.
You may be able to get the full rate by making early National Insurance payments. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will send you a letter to tell you how.

Oh right... I have no idea why II wasn't eligible then :'(... gutted

Great thread thank you, I'd not even thought about it existing!

I haven't paid any NI yet as until recently I couldn't afford it (my SE earnings are very low) but this web page makes it look as though if I start paying it now - circumstances have improved recently and I can now afford to - I would then be able to claim? I am only 19 weeks so have more than 13 left, and meet the other criteria about earnings etc.

Stupid question but now I think about it, presumably if I claim that means I can't earn anything during that time? I will mostly be stopping once baby arrives (I am a tutor in my own home so am hopefully able to work right through pregnancy). But some of my pupils' parents are friends who are hoping to cuddle the baby while I teach (it's a very casual set up for kids with SEN) - if I had to stop that I'd rather not claim because it would be bad for continuity.

I am possibly being really dense!

You can do 10 "keeping in touch" days for which you can be paid.

@PeglegAntoine I am a tutor too, feel free to DM me about MA if you like

You can't put the claim in before 26 weeks anyway

And they give you the opportunity to 'top up' your NI if necessary

I am SE , but don't think I will claim. I want to have the flexibility to take on work as and when I feel I can / have time. I sell on etsy, so I can close if I feel I have too much on / can't manage. I'd rather keep that flexibility.

It also covers your NI contributions for any period you don't work.

hi,
any advice would be much appreciated. I will have only been self employed for one year when the baby arrives so wont have done any tax returns or paid any NI contributions. Is it right that I will be able to pay these early in order to get the allowance. I have looked at the form and I can't see anywhere where you have to put in details about your income. Has anyone had to provide this?