SMP and extra income

Lolliloo

I am currently on maternity leave in my current job. Started on 2nd June this year and due to return on 1st March 09. I am currently earning only a fraction of my wage and with mortgage etc to pay am finding times tight - especially with the current economic climate

Anyway, Im thinking of starting Truly Madly Baby/Kid on a party plan and registering as self employed so I can get some extra income.

But does anyone know if I earn extra money whilst on maternity leave (and being paid SMP) will this affect my maternity pay?

Floxxie

You can work 10 days during maternity leave without it affecting your SMP. Check https://www.direct.gov.co.uk for further info.

HTH.

Floxxie

Eccle_2

I'm pretty certain if you started earning money through another job then your SMP would stop. There could also be issues with your employer about you taking another job depending on what there is in your contract with them.

Eccle_2

Floxxie wrote: »

You can work 10 days during maternity leave without it affecting your SMP. Check www.direct.gov.co.uk for further info.

HTH.

Floxxie

Aren't the 10 days just keeping in touch days with your current employer though? I didn't think it would allow you to do work elsewhere

dee1982_2

I would try looking into this a bit more. I think the above posts do not apply to self employed. I'm in same position as you and because mystery shopping is done on a self employed basis I'm sure it was okay to do without it affecting SMP. I got this info from another thread a few months ago.
I'm sure it is possible but I would double check just incase.

Floxxie

That's an interesting question as it does refer to your current employer for the 10 days.

Taken from the Directgov site:
During your leave it is often helpful to keep in touch with your employer. Your employer is entitled to make reasonable contact with you during maternity leave. This might be to discuss such things as arrangements for your return to work or to update you on any significant changes in the workplace while you've been away, including any opportunities for promotion or job vacancies.
Your maternity leave and pay will normally come to an end when you return to work. However, you are entitled to do up to ten days work during your maternity leave without losing statutory maternity pay, or maternity allowance if you are getting this instead, or bringing your leave to an end.
These 'keeping in touch days' may only be worked if both you and your employer agree. You cannot work during compulsory maternity leave i.e. two weeks immediately after you child is born. Although particularly useful for things such as training or team events, keeping in touch days may be used for any form of work and should make it easier to return to work after your leave. You will need to agree with your employer what work is to be done on keeping in touch days and how much pay you will receive.
It therefore suggests that you should not take on any extra work.

Floxxie

Floxxie

dee1982 wrote: »

I would try looking into this a bit more. I think the above posts do not apply to self employed. I'm in same position as you and because mystery shopping is done on a self employed basis I'm sure it was okay to do without it affecting SMP. I got this info from another thread a few months ago.
I'm sure it is possible but I would double check just incase.

The OP is not self-employed, she is employed but planning to go self-employed to earn extra cash. If she was receiving maternity allowance (as opposed to SMP) she would have to inform authorities of extra work that she was doing as a self-employed person to have her allowance dropped. (I'm still to have it clarified if the 10 days apply to MA as well as SMP)

Floxxie

Floxxie

Perhaps because self-employed are not paying tax at the time of earning, people think it is ok to do self-employed work on the side?

Have to admit though that it is not very clear.

Floxxie

Lolliloo

I know the keeping in touch days are with relevant employer only.

I just wondered if I did extra work on the side if it would affect my SMP with my main job employer? I have tried to search this info but cant find any clarification anywhere. Tried HMRC but I cant see anything to that end

Floxxie

And here's the answer, from the same site again - I have underlined the relevant bit..

Working in your Maternity Pay Period

If you are getting SMP from one employer and, before your baby is born, you do some work for another employer, your SMP is not affected.
Your SMP will stop if after the baby is born but before the end of the Maternity Pay Period, you work for an employer who did not employ you in the qualifying week. It is your responsibility to tell the employer paying you SMP about your new job. You must do this as soon as possible, and make sure you return any SMP payment you get that covers the week you started work and any part of the period after you resumed work.
If you do any work in a self-employed capacity during your MPP, then such work will not affect your SMP.

Floxxie

And the slightly different response for those claiming MA:

Keeping in Touch (KIT) days if you are getting MA

You are allowed to work as an employed or self-employed person for up to 10 days during your Maternity Allowance Period without losing any MA. These special days are known as KIT days.