Self-Employed Mum Needs HELP!

fernando_vaz

Hi All,

Sorry if I come across stupid, but have got a bit lost in minefield of what benefits I can and can't claim and thought someone in a similar situation maybe able to help.

I am self employed and pay my own tax and NI.
I work roughly 40 hours a week over 5 days.
My earnings after tax and deductions is around £15-20k - but my average flies up and down depending on the work.

My husband is emplyeed full time on a salary of £35k

We are expecting our first baby on the 20th June 2013.

A month after the baby is born, my husband will continue his job, and I plan to work roughly 3 half days a week. My earning maybe anywhere between £5-10k a year after tax and deductions - but due to the nature of my job one week I might earn £300, the next £1000.


I am aware that I can't claim Statutory Maternity Pay, but I am entitled to Maternity Allowance. I am told that when claiming this, I can work 10 days (doesn't matter if these are for 2 hours or 10 hours), and then I must notify the Job Centre. At which point I could lose it all together, or claim part of it depending on how many hours I work. Does anyone know what is the optimum hours/days I should look to do? Does it work better to work less days and more hours, or doesn't it matter?

Child tax credit - is this something we would be entitled to - and can anyone advise next steps with this?

Working tax credit - I'm planning to go back to self employed work pretty quickly, would I be entitled to this?

Childcare tax credit - And our child would go into nursery 2 or 3 half days a week - would we get support with this?

Or if this isn't an option, could my husband get Childcare Vouchers?

Lastly, I've read about shared paternity - if my husband wanted to take more than two weeks off work, could he do this and have some of my maternity leave (although do I technically not get this because I am self employed?).

Sorry for sounding stupid, and I have tried to research this, but have made so many phone calls and been passed between so many people and businesses, I am at a loss!

Any advise would be fantastic x

Sensemaya

Sorry this is the wrong forum. I think you need:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=139