I'm both 'employed' and 'self-employed' can I claim SMP and still rum my business?

leni

I have a full-time job and have my own business that I've built up over 2 years. My employer knows about my business and is OK about it.

I'm currently 14 weeks pregnant with my first child and because of the nature of my business (wedding sector) I alreadyhave 15 weddings booked in next year. My question therefore is, can I claim SMP and still earn an income from my self employed business? or can I not earn anything in addition to SMP? i.e. close my business for 9-12 months?

DX2

Circumstances that may affect your SMP

If you are already getting SMP there are circumstances that may affect your payments. The following examples provide more information.
If you return to work while receiving SMP

You can work up to ten days during your Maternity Pay Period (MPP) for the employer paying your SMP without losing your entitlement. These are called Keeping in Touch (KIT) days. Once you have worked for ten days and you do further work for that employer, you will lose SMP for each week in your MPP in which you do that work.
Please note, if you work your tenth KIT day and do a further day's work in the same week, you will lose SMP for that week. This is because you will have exceeded the ten day maximum in that week. In the MPP, a week means any period of seven days. For example, if your SMP started on a Thursday, a week will run from Thursday to Wednesday.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/DG_10018741

leni

thanks but not sure that answers my question as I'm not intending to do any days with my full-time employer, only my self employed work.

I'll check the link you posted though

Becles

You can do as much self employed work as you want when you are getting SMP from an employer.

If you do any work in a self-employed capacity during your MPP, then such work will not affect your SMP.

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/technical-guidance/ni17a-a-guide-to-maternity/statutory-maternity-pay-smp/working-in-your-maternity-pay/

If you claim Maternity Allowance, you are not allowed to do any work at all be that employed or self employed, apart from your KIT days.