Smp While Self Employed

scotty1971

hi there,my partner is currently self employed,she works from home as a childminder,how does she go about claiming statuary maternity pay,she only wants to take six weeks off, as she would loose all the children she minds,is it possible to just claim it for 6 weeks. any advice would be most welcome

Noozan

Hi

If she is self employed then she will be paying class 2 NI contributions and will be entitled to claim Maternity Allowance which is £117.18 per week for 39 weeks. (This is assuming that she doesn't haven't a small earnings exemption certificate)

Oh and, yes, it is possible to claim for just 6 weeks if that's what she wants to do.

scotty1971

it also says they may pay up to 90% of your weekly earnings for sx weeks if it's over the basic smp rate,is that only if she is employed and not self employed? thanks

chrisbur

scotty1971 wrote: »

it also says they may pay up to 90% of your weekly earnings for sx weeks if it's over the basic smp rate,is that only if she is employed and not self employed? thanks

The 90% average payment if over the basic rate is only for SMP though if your 90% average is less than the standard rate then you will get the lower 90% average figure for maternity allowance (this part is the same as SMP)
Also you can qualify even if you have a small earnings exemption certificate.

Details from;
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/DG_10018869
Who is eligible?

You might get Maternity Allowance if:

• you're employed, but not eligible for Statutory Maternity Pay
• you're registered self-employed and paying Class 2 National Insurance Contributions (NICs), or hold a Small Earnings Exception certificate
• you have very recently been employed or self-employed

You may be eligible if:

• you've been employed and/or self-employed for at least 26 weeks of the 'test period' (66 weeks up to and including the week before your baby is due). Part weeks count as full weeks; and
• you earned £30 a week averaged over any 13 weeks in your test period

Noozan

scotty1971 wrote: »

it also says they may pay up to 90% of your weekly earnings for sx weeks if it's over the basic smp rate,is that only if she is employed and not self employed? thanks

As long as she's paid class 2 contibutions, she will be classed as earning enough to get the full 117.18 a week.

scotty1971

thanks for that,she has paid her NI up too date,her weekly gross earnings are £294,so will she get the £117.18 per week,here was me thinking she would get 90% of £294,lol suppose i can dream