Maternity Allowance - would working for 13 weeks p/time for DH qualify me?

[FeelingEvil]

DH is self-employed and earns a fair whack, so to reduce his tax bill, he pays me for doing his books every year (about £6000).

I am/ was self-employed too and when I had DD got maternity allowance for 9 months. We're TTC and tbh I have no real motivation to get back to the world of work again. So, what I'm asking is if I work part-time for DH keeping his books and general admin 1 day a week over 13 weeks, would that qualify me for maternity allowance when the time comes?

I can't think why not, but wondered if any wise MNetters will have thought of something I haven't thought of.

Im trying to get mat allowance at the moment. It does say you need to be working for 26 out of the 66 weeks preceding the birth , but that apparently includes maternity leave if that is relevant (it is to me as I am having my second quite close to my first).

IF you google maternity allowance you can find out more info.

Are you paying class 2 national insurance contributions? Because as far as I know you need to be in order to claim

Yes. made sure I paid class 2 NI for this very reason.
But, having looked on the gov website, I now realise my confusion.
You're right, TheApprentice, I have to work 26 weeks. it's not 13 weeks.

Darn it, need to find some work for 26 weeks now!

No, you need to be employed for 26 weeks. Quite different. You only have to be paid for 13 weeks. Obviously, you need your pay to be as high as possible.

I think if you were self-employed and paid your NI contributions then you don't actually need to have done 26 weeks 'work'...

I actually have done more than 26 weeks but only had to tick boxes saying I was self-employed and paid my NI contributions (I think). And have had the form saying I qualify for the full amount. So all you would have to do if register as self-employed - and then pay NI class 2.

www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchil dren/DG_10018869

The rules may have changed by now, but I earned absolute peanuts between DS1 and DS2 as a freelance book editor (hampered by non-sleeping baby), paid NI class 2 throughout and certainly got my Mat Allowance without any questions about which weeks I'd worked.

Yes, defintely have to work 26 out of the last 66 weeks.

The amount you get will be calculated from 13 weeks.

You have to earn at least £30 per week.

I'm assuming you have to be paying tax for these weeks.

Can you call your MA office?

They were very helpful with me.

Don't think I could stretch to saying that I do book keeping and general admin part time for 26 weeks ... could I?

Well, you could do an hour per week, at £10 per hour and then your husband could pay you a bonus of £1400 on one of those weeks, making your average £117.69, giving you full entitlement.

i am sure you can register as self-employed for 26 weeks and pay ni contributions and therefore qualify. download the form and see what you have to fill in.

if you're self employed for 26 weeks and have paid NI during that time, they don't actually test your earnings for the 13 week period (even though it suggests online they do)

you just get the full whack awarded to you automatically (about £120 per week)

oooh, that's interesting.
I'm actually already paying Class 2 NI, I just haven't got a contract to work yet (I'm freelance).

Might do as you suggest, Umlellala and just download the form to have a look.

oh hold on
I think you have to be earning over £30 a week
but beyond that they won't test your earnings if self-employed
do check with them yourself, and then DOUBLE CHECK
I've been told some right old bolleaux

They checked my earnings, but I'm not self employed.

It's a bit rich if you can just register as self employed and you get the full amount anyway.

Please don't abuse the system. Either work properly and claim the allowance, or don't work and accept that you won't get it.

Doing tiny amounts of work for high pay for your DH in order to reduce his tax bill is actually tax avoidance, and illegal.

ok