SELF EMPLOYEED - ANY MAT OR CHILCARE BENEFITS

[knakered]

I have just started working freelance/contractor...ia m now pregnant ...obviously with no employer ...do I get any maternity pay or childcare support(vouchers?tax breaks?)

you'll get statutory mat pay. no childcare support as far as I know, but you can apply for child tax credits like anyone else.

If you set yourself up as a limited company you will be able to pay yourself a salary and part of this could be taken as childcare vouchers. The only thing you need is a friendly accountant to help you with the payroll. It means you may also save on tax but I would talk it through with somebody as this may be a better option for you.

if you are self employed you need a claim form for Maternity Allowance (as opposed to maternity pay)

you get it from the Job Centre or Department of Work and Pensions Office.

just get it and fill it in.....and if you need to speak to either the DWP, Inland Revenue or Job Centre at any point about your claim, CHECK EVERYTHING THEY TELL YOU......they sent me round in circles for months as no-one had the first idea about the criteria for claiming this (which in fact turned out to be straightforward)