maternity allowance for self employed

newbridge

Dear All,
Am carrying my first child and was looking at the gov website regarding maternity allowance. Although It gives details on individual circumstances(employed, un-employed, or self-employed) not sure how calculation is done for some one who was employed before but self-employed now. I am going to visit JC soon, but thought might ask the experts in here first. Situation is as below

- Had been employed(part-time) for 8 months before the due date.
- Due to maternity sickness, I wasnt able to work efficiently, so decided to hand in resignation and ended employment last month.
- I have also been working as self-employed since last 6 months, but since the earning was less initially its class-II NI exempt. Business is growing slowly and would continue to be self-employed after birth of the baby.

From online calculators if I input figures as being unemployed who had been working for 26 weeks before due date. I am eligible for maternity allowance ( ~£130/week) for 29 weeks. But I am not sure if me being self-employed would have any bearing on it.

Thanks for reading my slightly longer post

Mrs_Soup

I think you are entitled to MA based on having been employed for 26 weeks during the 66 weeks prior to the week before the week the baby is due. If you fill that criteria I don't think the current self employment comes into it. Isn't it 39 weeks of MA not 29? Ceryainly what you plan to do afterwards has no bearing on it except that there are limits on how much you can work while claiming MA. You should check this out if you plan to work while claiming.

newbridge

thanks for reply...

Yes it is 39 weeks indeed. I didn't earn enough from my self employment to pay class-II NI and hence checking if that would impact my allowance.