Maternity Allowance and Self Employment

jujugaboo

I am currently self-employed since 1st July and on an 18 month contract. I am pregnant from the 28th June. Will I be able to claim maternity allowance? I have not paid any tax or NI for my self employed basis yet. The rules state 'You must have been self-employed for at least 26 weeks in your 66 week test period' does this mean I am eligible?

Any advice would be welcomed. Thanks.

ladyrider260

I believe this means you have to have been self employed for 66 weeks on you due date. So, work out your due date and count back 66weeks. Does that make sense? There's more info here: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/technical-guidance/ni17a-a-guide-to-maternity/maternity-allowance-ma/

[Deleted User]

I know about this, let me see what my wife says...

[Deleted User]

ladyrider260 wrote: »

I believe this means you have to have been self employed for 66 weeks on you due date. So, work out your due date and count back 66weeks. Does that make sense? There's more info here: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/technical-guidance/ni17a-a-guide-to-maternity/maternity-allowance-ma/

That's not right at all, sorry.

[Deleted User]

Ok so the rule is that within the 66 weeks, you must have worked 26 weeks, this can be self employment and employment or a mixture of both and does not have to be in order, for example 2 weeks in March, 2 weeks in April, so on...

You must have paid Class 2 NI for at least 13 of those 26 weeks, these are called your chosen weeks from your test period.

If you pick self employment weeks then you are entitled to the full amount. But you must of course make the weeks where you are self employed and paid or will pay class 2 NI your chosen weeks from the test period.

You must pay the NI before you apply so that it shows when they check it on the system, if they don't see it then they simply say no, then you have to appeal, then they check again, they you are getting on for half way through your claim - by then we were broke! lol, but it worked in the end.

HTH