Maternity pay question: am i allowed..

ButtonF1Fan

Hiya,
i'm on maternity leave until march. am i allowed a temp xmas job to help with the bills?

i was on low hourly rate so getting paid smp via my employer.
would getting a temp job be like getting a job whilst on sickleave, as my mate implied, and likely to get me in trobule, or is it like having 2 jobs, as technically i'm still employeed whislt on leave, if its a "second job" thats ok becuasse its not wrong, i'll just get taxed more.

please help. my hubby did 40 hours overtime last month so we can afford to live with me on SMP. i dont want to do my normal job, as that means i cant take my baby (retail). i was thinking paper rounds, or avon where i can walk my son about in a buggy during daytime.

bumpybecky

sorry if you start working for a new employer your SMP will have to stop

After the baby is born, if you work for an employer who did not employ you in the 15th week before the week your baby was due, your SMP must stop. You must tell the employer paying you SMP.

from this page:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/nmw/

ButtonF1Fan

thats a bit harsh

but thanks for finding that for me becky, i did try to google, but got nothing helpful.

surreysaver

At least you get a choice about whether to work or take leave! Men don't get the choice.

tessie_bear

im sure u cant work while getting smp....u could check with dept work and pensions

surreysaver

You cannot work whilst on Maternity Leave - it would be benefit fraud. Same as claiming Unemployment Benefit whilst working. You are being paid to stay at home and look after your baby - not to take on an additional job!

chrisbur

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=14029477

You can do self employed work while getting smp details in the above thread. Towards the end.

Becles

If you are on SMP you can do self employed work, so something like Avon would be fine.

It's if you are on Maternity Allowance that you cannot do any work at all, be it PAYE or self employed.

petshopgirlemma

Next Monday's money box on radio 4 might be helpful? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/moneybox/7645921.stm

surreysaver

What are the changes they're on about that begin on the 5th October?

gordonstights

surreysaver wrote: »

What are the changes they're on about that begin on the 5th October?

Something to do with contractual rights continuing for the whole year I think. At the moment I think a woman loses her right to accrued holiday after 6 months of maternity leave, but if she chooses to not return to work she can accrue holiday and benefits that she was entitled to (like company car) for the whole year?