SMP Question...

vickyn_2

Hi, bit of a weird question, hoping someone might have to answer before I go to the tax office for advice!!

I am currently employed and due to commence Mat Leave on 11/09/06. I am entitled to the full SMP i.e., 90% for first 6 weeks and lower amount for the remainder 20 weeks.

My intention is to not return, not told employer this as yet but I have more or less made my mind up! In the meantime, I am looking for work I can do from home including setting up my own business or similair, which will mean I will be self-employed.

My question is, if I start a self-employed part-time job now, can I continue this right through my mat. leave with my full time employer and continue to receive my full entitlement??? I don't intend to be earning very much to begin with but wanted to establish my earnings now with the self-employed job(s) and would obviously at the time register myself as self-employed with HMRC - would this then stop my SMP entitlements with my current employer whilst on OML??

Hope this makes sense!!

Cheers.

callansdad

If you do any paid work during maternity leave then you will have to pay back your SMP. I am not too sure of all the ins and outs but that is the general rule.
I think you can however do some volunteering work but dont know the limits on this either and it probably wouldn't help you

callansdad

Go to http://www.dwp.gov.uk/lifeevent/benefits/statutory_maternity_pay.asp

click on "I am already getting it, what if?" section and have a read

Lucyy

Vicky, I'm not pregnant yet but hopefully when I am, I plan to take a full year Maternity leave from my employer and whilst on SMP from them, continue to run my part-time business from home. I was looking into this and couldn't find much info on it at all.

Take a look at the link below, which gives good info about SMP and working whilst pregnant and basically says you are allowed to work as self-employed whilst receiving SMP.

However, if you do not qualify for SMP and only get MA, then you are not permitted to earn from self employment.

http://www.workingfamilies.org.uk/asp/family_zone/fs_pr1_matrights.asp

vickyn_2

Thanks Lucy, that link does confirm that I can work part-time self employed without it affecting SMP payments which is great!! I may still check with the tax office when I register myself as self-employed though.

Good luck and hope you fall pregnant soon x