Need info on self employed & maternity pay/leave etc

rossontheweb

Hello all!

My partner has just discovered that we're pregnant but we can't figure out if we will get any benefits or help.

We are both self employed through our own separate limited companies.

Even though we are 'entitled' to maternity leave and pay, we both work on a project basis so if we don't work we don't have any money.

Does the government help small companies to pay their staff (ie her) maternity pay?
What should we expect in the way of child support etc?

Sorry if it obvious to everyone on the forums, but this is all new to us and the information that the government gives out seems only geared to people in employment, not freelancers and self employed people.

Anyone got any experience of this situation?

Thanks all!

notanewuser

Child support is for the parents to provide. If eligible for SMP (which will depend on how much she gets paid per week) then I believe it has to be paid by the company and reclaimed from the Government.

Assuming you each earn less than £50k a year then child benefit of £20ish a week will be claim able once baby arrives.

You'll need to give more info for people to advise on tax credits.