Cancel small earnings NI exceptions!!

bobndee98

Hi

My wife is 8 months pregnant has been told she is not eligible for Maternity Allowance as she is self employed holds a NI small earnings exemption certificate [which she has only had for 6 weeks]

Does anyone know if this can be cancelled or if she registers to pay the NI contribution of £2.40/wk will this mean she will be eligible to receive the £123/wk MA regardless of the exemption cert??

Unfortunately when she registered for the exception she was not told this may affect her benefits.

Please can anyone help!

Thanks,

Bobndee

stazi

The conditions to get MA are here-
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/DG_10018869

toonbaz

you should be able to cancel the small earnings exemption if its only been put in place 6 weeks ago, you will then be able to pay your class 2 contributions for that period. self employed NI helpline is 08459154655, give them a call.

Deepmistrust

Maternity Allowance


If you're pregnant or have a new baby but don't qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) from any employer, you may be able to claim Maternity Allowance (MA) through Jobcentre Plus.

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 in your 'test period' (66 weeks up to and including the week before the week 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

Her small earnings exemption shouldn't stop her from being eligible.
I suspect it's because she hasn't held the certificate (or paid the relevant contributions) in the test period?

karenx

She will still get MA but at the reduced rate. I think its somehting like £30 per week