Employed and self employed - maternity pay

leanne86

I am employed 32 hours a week, and planning to become self employed alongside (just a small income - max a couple of thousand a yr). Just thinking into the future when I will want to be on maternity pay. My employer (NHS) pays OMP and then SMP , would this still stand if I become self employed aswell? Would it effect it in any way? or would I need to stop doing my self employed stuff whilst pregnant/on mat leave?

TIA

Savvy_Sue

I think that you have to stop working altogether during paid maternity leave.

If you pay s/e ni, you can claim maternity allowance, which isn't that generous but may help if you decide to give up the day job. However you can't claim both SMP and MA! Even though you have both the day job and your self employment.

leanne86

Thanks Savvy_Sue. Yeah I thought I might have to stop the self employed stuff which would be no problem. I get a good OMP and then SMP so I would be silly for me to jeopardise that. I wonder if I could still be registered as having a business just not earning. I wouldn't be giving up the main job, the self employed bit is just a craft /hobby type thing mainly for pleasure than anything else.