Maternity allowance and self-employed help

[Deleted User]

Evening all
Had a quick search and couldn’t find anything that specifically answers my query, apologies if it’s in the wrong sub.

My partner is currently self-employed; she owns her own card shop both high street store and online business. The online business is done either through her own website or via Etsy. She also uses Thortful to sell her cards; she uploads a design and a customer orders via thortful and then thortful does all the work and my partners business earns a % of each sale.
One day a week she works an admin job too and has been there for some years.

We’re at the stage where we’re considering trying for a baby but are looking at the finances beforehand and she mentioned she wouldn’t be entitled to MA due to the income from Thortful.
She mentioned if she became a Ltd company she may qualify but then said she wouldn’t be able to do any work for herself i.e doing her own orders via website and Etsy.

It’s not something I have any experience with at all
Any help/info is greatly appreciated. Hope it makes some sense

Thanks

WhenIam64

If you are the partner then any claim will be a joint claim. There are a couple of online benefit calculators which you can use (Turn2Us and EntitledTo) which will calculate benefits on a "what if" basis.

Best to run through those first and come back with any questions. Benefits are a complex area as they are influenced by NI contributions, savings, and income - for you both. In addition, if you make an error or misunderstand and overclaim, the system can be unforgiving.

Come back with specific questions once you've narrowed the options.

[Deleted User]

Thanks, question is already fairly specific.

Completely aware it’d be a joint claim. Both our NI contributions are fully up to date. Will check those websites out

sheramber

Why would she not get Maternity Allowance?

https://www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance/eligibility