Maternity Benefit for the self-employed

[PutThatInYourPipeandSmokeIt]

I can't for the life of me remember what I did to get this last time!

Can anyone tell me??

[selfemployedness]

when you get your matb1 form at 20 weeks you get your certificate and then you need to fill in a form from the job centre or download it from here

www.dsdni.gov.uk/nil_17a.pdf

[gem1981]

if you are self employed you can claim maternity allowance up to £117.00 a week i think its for 26 weeks - it was last time with me.

you need to have earned at least £30.00 a week for 26 weeks before your babay is due I think.

Call the department of work and pensions and they will tell you more and send you a form.

hope this helps.

i have just got my form from them and will be sending it off soon.

[PutThatInYourPipeandSmokeIt]

Thank you for your replies - I have located the form and am printing it as I type!

[lou222]

sure i've read £117 for 39 weeks
also child benefit and tax credits

[staranise]

This is all new to me as this is the first pg I've spent in the UK. Have always been self-employed but didn't realise I was entitled to anything! Is that £117 for everybody? (don't think we qualify for tax credits). I have two older DCs, one who will be at school and one at pre-school. Does the 26 weeks work date from the birth or the beginning of the pregnancy?

[staranise]

Sorry, am very confused having looked at the form. Do I qualify for SMP or MA and which is the best? I work from home self-employed as an editor and my work rate varies enormously (I understand they take an average weekly rate for income). I'm a Class Two contributor and have been since Sept 07, baby is due dec 08.

Really appreciate any guidance you can give.

[isaidno]

You have to be employed (by self or otherwise) for at least 26 weeks before you are 25 weeks pregnant. I am claiming MA because I only work 8 hrs a week and do not earn enough for SMP.

You have to provide proof of your earnings for any 13 weeks within a certain period. they will calculate your allowance from this. (£117 is the max, if you earn less than this it is 90% of your earnings.) It is paid for max 39 weeks, but stops if you return to work before that.

HTH.

[staranise]

Thanks, that really helps. What's the difference in amount between SMP and MA? No idea what my average wages are but I can bump them up apparently (legally!) by selecting the 13 weeks where I earned the most?

[azkat]

Hi, i am self employed as a childminder and started my MA a couple of weeks ago. You will receive 39 weeks at £117.??. My earnings varied drastically but as i paid NI contributions (i think they are also class 2) i never had to provide proof of earnings. If i remember rightly i think on the form if you tick the box for paid NI then you don't have to fill in much else. Hope this is also correct for you. From discussions with friends I think that SMP and MA are actually for the same amount.

[staranise]

Thanks that's v helpful. Glad to hear I don't have to provide proof of earnings as that all gets v complicated with my type of work. Am definitely a Class 2 contributor.

Glad to hear I can have a rest before due date!

[EmmaKateLouise]

Yes, SMP and MA are the same amounts but SMP is paid by your employer and then they reclaim it from the HM Revenue & Customs, where as SMA is paid straight to you from the Revenue/government.