Can I work while on SMP?

[Giggle78]

Hi there,

I am going on SMP in June and want to stay off work and away from work for as long as possible but can't afford to live on SMP for very long.

I am a drama teacher and could set up a Saturday Club/tout myself around to a few schools to see if I could run a few afterschool clubs. This would mean minimal hours but could bring in some extra income.

I was also going to do exam marking (so boring but you do it at home over a few weeks in June and Jan).

I also fancied offering my services to the local uni and seeing if I could do Teacher Training mentoring - this would be freelance and a bit ad hoc.

Can I do freelance/self employed work and not lose my SMP? Do I have to inform my employer? Or does anyone know where I can find out?

Many thanks,

here you are

Short answer is yes you can work but not for your existing employer, as far as I can tell.

Actually no, once you're baby is born you can't do any work for anyone else or your SMP stops.

You can do some work for someone other than your employer until the birth of your child.

You should check your entitlement to child tax credits (you get more if you have a child under one) and you may be able to ask your employer to pay some of your holiday pay as you will continue to acrue it whilst you're on maternity leave.

You only get SMP for 39 weeks so after that you can work whilst still on leave as you are no longer in receipt of SMP, if you are taking longer than 39 weeks mat leave (max is 52 weeks)

You can also do 10 days keeping in touch days for your employer for extra money during your maternity leave but that must be with your employer.

By employer I mean whoever employed you during your "qualifying weeks" usually a period of at least 8 weeks up to and including the last pay day.

You can't work for your existing or a new employer, but you can work on a self-employed basis, so if the things you mention are self-employed, that would be fine. You'd need to register as self-employed with HMRC.

Oops sorry I posted the link without reading it properly, I knew you could work during the unpaid part of mat leave

Thanks so much,

that is really helpful to me.

Freelance drama teaching here I come!

Giggle