Statutory maternity pay

[armynick]

Ok, so I've read up on the various payments, tax credits and benifits allowed for pregnant women and young mothers who are employed but what about self employed women? Are they entitled to any help at all?

I've looked on the goverment website but couldn't see anything, so I'll guess I'll have to call them on monday.

Just curious.

[Gretchen]

Is you up the duff then?

You can get a caaahncil house and everyfin', innit...

[richyb]

What do you mean when you say self employed? As in runs her own business or a freelancer? If you are self-employed and are contracted out to a company that company does not have to pay anything. You will only be entitled to maternity pay if your contract of employment explicitly recognises you as an employee as opposed to a worker.

[armynick]

my ex, not me thank god, I couldn't stand the pain.

She runs her own business, not that it's doing so well now. Before she was pregnant she was self employed.

[richyb]

armynick said:

my ex, not me thank god, I couldn't stand the pain.

She runs her own business, not that it's doing so well now. Before she was pregnant she was self employed.

She will be far worse off than the equivalent employed owmen I would imagine.

[DKL]

If it's a limited company and she draws a director's salary then yes she would be entitled to SMP from the company. Said company then gets to claim SMP back from NI contributions. IIRC this is not quite the same as if she was an ordinary employee but she would need to get her accountant to explain the exact differences but the principle is the same.
If she is a sole trader then no.

[ncjones]

Maternity Allowance is the equivalent of SMP for the self-employed.

http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Customers/Work...