Maternity leave from own business - how long did you take off?

[vanimal]

I am a freelance writer and am pg with DC3, due in August. DCs are aged 4 and 2.

I am looking into a few projects with new clients at the moment, which would require me to work close to my due date, and then resume the project as soon as possible after I have had the baby.

It's a great role, and would give me work well into the next year maybe even longer if I did pursue it, so I am really hoping it's not too unrealistic for me to go back to working when baby is maybe 2-ish months old.

Just wondering how long most people took off after having a baby? How did you cope with a newborn and sleepless nights etc whilst having to work too? Am I being crazy to even consider this?

As short a time as you have to to keep the MA money.
Nobody pays your wages if you are not working when self employed.

That's exactly why I am thinking of going back so soon. I have saved some money to see me through mat leave, but that is being used up very rapidly already, and I don't want to be in a position where I have used up all of my savings whilst not working.

Just wondering how easy it will be to work so soon after having a baby - ie coping with sleepless nights and then doing a days work.

How long did you take off?

With my second one.
16 hours !

I started back working hard within 6 weeks (that being the limit for MA then)
but it was in hour, part hour blocks or in the evening.
I've only got back into doing "days" now that they are both at Secondary school.

Then again I've never had childcare - just juggled with DH who is self employed too.

What did you do when your other dcs were born?

What childcare do you have in place for them?

I took off 9 mo and 12mo with the other dcs, but I was not freelance then so I did get SMP.

DD1 starts school in Sept, and DD2 will be in nursery for 15h/week. Unfortinately my nabysitter has just moved to a different city so I don't have any wrap around care, and no family nearby either.

talkingpeace2 wow, how did you manage? You must have been shattered.

Typing on my phone, sorry about the typos.

9 months and still weaned myself back into work. Depends if you are at home or not? At home stuff is easy as you can stay in your PJ's

4 weeks with both - although I went to the office a few times before (with the baby), and was flexible after I'd started pack. DH and I work together, so we sorted it out between us.

2 days. Thank God for my BB! I emailed whilst my DS was awake, and spoke to clients when I had a boob shoved in his face!

vanimal - I had no choice so I just did. But yes, tiredeness is part of the deal when self employed. I've only just finished working this evening.

You are entitled to SMP if you are freelance.

I was self employed 12 years ago, then maternity allowance hadn't been invented, so I went back when she was 2 weeks (part time) she was dc2, dc3 was 3 weeks and ds4 was 6 months! Ds5 was the same week.....that was total killer! I hated it but there was no way around it as I run the company and without me there is no company! I wish I'd been able to take a few months off this time, I so enjoyed it last time when I did! I do feel Luke I missed out on special time together I

I got SMP from my temp agency 14 years ago and MA self employed 12 years ago.
All six weeks of it.

You can now get 9 months of maternity allowance if u want to take it.

Ten weeks with each of them.

swollow
paid for by who? and based on what earnings - bearing in mind many self emp people under declare their net take (mad if they don't)

You have to submit a test period of 10 weeks invoicing and bank statements etc. The government pays it. It's at the same rate as smp, no more, no less. But is paid direct to you rather than coming through an employer. You don't have to claim full 9 months if u go back to work early just let them know as soon as u start up again. The maximum could receive is about £500 PCM while not working.

SMP is now a hundred odd quid for 39 weeks.

The rules changed a few years back! Ma is particularly set up for those who are self employed or not entitled to smp.

That's a hundred odd quid per week for 39 weeks.

You don't get the 6 weeks at 90% of your salary as you do if you work for an employer, otherwise it's the same

I also think it a generalisation to say all self employed under declare! You can earn up to 7kish without paying tax so why the need to under declare?

swollow
sorry, now I am UTTERLY confused.
You mean there are MN freelance posters who believe what HMRC say about tax rather than what is on my ebay me page.
Holey moley, that is scary.

I juggle constantly to keep DH and I out of the 40% band.

All the mortgage companies I've ever dealt with know that true profits are more than declared ....

Off topic here but how do you under declare? I don't understand how it can be done? Am I being naive ???

msgee
you need to read my me page
members.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=talkinpeace
only a fool does not make darned sure that all expenses are deductible

feel no guilt. MPs and top civil servants dont

9 weeks for DD
9 days for DS