Would like another baby

PaulaH_2

Hi everyone,

I have only just joined this site so forgive me if I am asking this question in the wrong thread.

I have a little girl who will be two next month, she has been quite poorly since she was six months and therefore I didn't go back to work when my maternity leave finished, thankfully she is doing well now and we have decided to try for another baby, my question is as I haven't worked for over two years will I be entitled to any money at all when the baby comes along, I am a registered childminder now and am hoping to get some children to mind soon and then I can register as self employed but if this doesn't happen I guess I wont be entitled to anything. I am currently cliaming job seekers allowance, worked briefly over christmas but that was only temporary.

Any help would be great

Many thanks

Becles

If you do become self employed and register to pay Class 2 NI payments, and work for 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before the baby is due, then you should be entitled to Maternity Allowance.

Don't get the Small Earnings Exemption Certificate as you get a much lower rate of MA if you have that. I'm not sure of the exact rates but it's about £27 for women with the certificate, or around £120 a week for those without.

The self employed just get either one of those payments. It's not based on a percentage of your earnings like SMP or MA for employed women.