Self employment and Maternity allowance.

Doodlebug1

Hi all,

Was wondering if someone can help me. Please be gentle!
I have been doing some tutoring since midish sept 2011, for an agency and for a new agency since Nov (overlap) and been steadily making on average around £40 - £50 a week since then, some weeks more or less depending on demand. I figured as I would never earn above the threshold for the year that there was no point declaring it to HMRC as I wouldnt be entitled to anything and wouldnt have to pay tax on it anyway. Before anyone else says it, I know thats wrong but after having encountered with HMRC in previous jobs with tax etc its put me off ringing them for life!! but still aware i should have done - guess i just wasn't too fussed. Now the issue is that I am currently 29 weeks pregnant, due 9th april.
I genuinely didnt think i was entitled to anything until someone mentioned it to me that I may be entitled to Maternity allowance. Now obviously that would really be helpful as I was will have to stop tutoring for a while after the baby arrives (plan to breastfeed as I did previously and will be attached to baby until routine is established enough for me to leave him/her).
My question is what do I do next can I declare that I have been self employed since sept and will i still be entitled to MA and qualify? From my understanding I would recieve a certificate exempting me from NI payments and will recieve around £27 a week.

Any help appreciated

karenx

You need to register as self employed, also where has the money been going that you made? Into an account? Do you have books to prove all this? This will all be needed for your tax return.
Are you claiming any other benefits? Ie housing benefit?

Have you been paying any national insurance all this time? You need it to claim MA. And of been working 26 out of the 66 weeks before the babys due. You will also need proof of these earnings to send in when trying to claim MA. So will need your accounts showing your £50 per week you made.

Doodlebug1

The money was going into an account, by books do you mean something like statements because I can use them to prove where the money has been going. I don't claim any other benefits except for child tax credits for my 2 year old, no housing benefit or jsa etc.

I paid NI before I left my last job for maternity (and not returning). I worked there full time for four years, is that enough to claim MA? I've worked out that I will have worked about 30ish weeks if working right up until the babys due date. Will I need invoices from the agencies to prove the work aswel?

Thank you for the reply

karenx

Yes you will need invoices to prove you have been paid and the amount. Also paying NI for the period 66 weeks before baby is due. Are you paying NI now?

no-oneknowsme

karenx wrote: »

Yes you will need invoices to prove you have been paid and the amount. Also paying NI for the period 66 weeks before baby is due. Are you paying NI now?

Judging by the OP's post it would (to me) appear that she hasnt informed HMRC of the work that she has been doing. I dont think she will have been paying national insurance contributions...

OP is this assumption correct? If it is then im almost certain that you will be looking at a fine of £100 for not declaring your self employment .

Doodlebug1

Sorry for the late reply! Yes thats correct, I hadn't/havent informed them of the work I was doing as I worked out I never earnt above the threshold so wouldn't be paying any tax so didn't bother informing them- stupid I know! I can get ahold of invoices so that shouldn;t be too much of a problem but would I still be entitled to MA even though I havent paid/will not pay any tax for the work I have been doing.

I don't mind paying the fine as it was my fault for not informing them in the first place so I have no issues with that.

thanks for the replies

themull1

If your self employed earnings are low and you claim small earnings exception you're £100 fine will be waived if you ask.

Doodlebug1

ah ok, thanks for that, saved me £100!

karenx

No part of the conditions of MA states that you must of paid NI in the period before claiming also

Doodlebug1

great even better!! thanks for all your help

karenx

I think you read it wrong or I worked it wrong. No you wont get it as part of the conditions of MA states you must of paid NI also in the period. You havnt paid it so you dont qualify for it