Working whilst on Maternity Allowance

[AnneTwackie]

I’m a childminder and due to have a baby next January. I’m hoping to take just a few weeks completely off and then take children again with the help of an assistant. I will do little, if any, of the work but be there for continuity. I will need to continue to receive maternity allowance to afford to pay her and support myself. Does anyone know if this is allowed?

What do you mean? Wont you be paying the assistant and yourself from the fees you charge parents?

Just like with SMP you get from an employer, you can do up to 10 paid keeping in touch days without losing your entitlement to Maternity Allowance.

You only get 10 KIT days during the maternity allowance period too so if you work more than that then MA will stop

As you are self employed and your income from parents will count as earnings you wont be entitled to maternity allowance as you are not on maternity leave?

hollowvictory the amount I am paid wouldn’t cover an assistants wage and give me an income.

thanks for your responses!

Well then your business isn't viable. If your revenue does not cover your costs you don't have a viable business.

If you're not planning on doing the work, then your income will be the Maternity Allowance and your assistant's wage will presumably be paid from fees you receive from parents. No problem.

If both of you will need to be working and receiving pay from the business then surely you must be charging parents enough to cover two lots of pay? And if you are, you won't need the Maternity Allowance as you'll be receiving pay from the business again.

Maternity Allowance is to replace earnings while you're not working, not to top up or subsidise earnings when you start work again. That's not how it works!

If amount you are paid wouldnt cover assistants wage and give you an income then you dont get an assistant and do it yourself surely?

Maternity Allowance (or Statutory Maternity Pay) can’t be claimed if you’re actually working....it’s for maternity ‘leave’ whether that’s a place of employment or self-employment.