Maternity pay for self employed

[likessleep]

If I start freelance in March 2009, how long would I have to work/how many NI contributions would I have to pay to then get maternity pay (planning to start ttc end of 2009)?
Thanks muchly

I am not sure really but interested in the answer.

Not sure about how long etc, but you would be claiming Maternity Allowance, which is either statutory (about 109) per week) or something to do with your earnings over the past 66 weeks.....I think. Look here.. www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Customers/WorkingAgeBenefits/Dev_008115.xml.html

You need to work 26 weeks during the 66 week period before your due date. So during the 9 months of your pregnancy and the 6 months before your pregnancy, you need to work 6 months during that whole time.

how long can you claim maternity allowance for? what happens if you are claiming it and want to go back to doing some freelance work? Do they deduct your earnings from the mat allowance?

DWP guidance

thanks that is really helpful

Excellent, that is helpful and a reflief that I can freelance for a while knowing I will be covered for maternity allowance.
Thank you for posting!