Maternity pay

[Harriet669]

Hi

Sorry if this is very obvious
Does this mean you set both SMP at the same time as full wage? As it's says inclusive to?

It means they top it up so you are getting your normal full wage.

You will just get the enhanced pay. So say you usually get £1,000 a month. That's what you will get for the first 15 weeks. After that you will get the SMP.

Not sure how it works for employer they likely claim the SMP form the gov and then just pay you the extra to take you up to your normal salary.

Yeah as PPs have said you'll just get the equivalent of regular wage for the first 15 weeks, not regular wage + SMP. Your regular wage equivalent will be made up of SMP plus whatever the difference is between SMP and your wage.

Thank you everyone 🥰

They will top up your SMP to make it up to your full wage

Hi all wonder if anyone has any advice regarding claiming maternity allowance as a SOLE company director, no employees and also only pay myself dividends (no salary) I have been advised I am entitiled to this however the forms are so confusing and ask me for payslips - even tho I don’t have payslips as I don’t earn a ‘salary’ just dividends. Does anyone else have any experience with this? I’m not entitiled to smp as you need employees

If you're self employed does it not need a certain number of Class 2 NI contributions rather than payslips?

Why not call the helpline

I think @dementedpixie is right, it'll depend on if you've been paying class 2 ni contributions on your dividend earnings. If you have then you'll qualify for MA, if not then you won't get anything.

Speak to HMRC ASAP and your accountant. Usually best set up is for your company to pay you a small salary up to Personal allowance or to the national insurance earning threshold. This way you get credit for national insurance each year for state benefits and state pension! Company gets to claim salary as an expense in company accounts to lower profits. Then take income out as dividends on top. You can't pay class 2 NIC on dividends that's only if you are self employed and your not your a director. You may not be entitled to MAT allowance if not paying any NIC speak to HMRC and accountant ASAP to sort, you don't want to miss out.