Is It Possible To Work For Yourself While On Maternity Leave?

Maternity leave is a right granted to employees, allowing them to take up to 52 weeks off work and return to the same job. However, self-employed individuals cannot take maternity leave but can claim Maternity Allowance for up to 39 weeks to take time off work during pregnancy. To ensure a comfortable maternity leave while self-employed, follow these six steps:

1. Plan your maternity leave in advance, including not-even-trying-yet planning.
2. Consider the natural progression of your pregnancy and adjust your plan accordingly.
3. If you are on maternity leave and receiving Statutory Maternity Pay, you can still work on a self-employed basis without affecting your entitlements.
4. Many companies offer paid parental leave to employees, but self-employed individuals can take maternity or paternity leave.
5. Self-employed workers are not eligible for parental leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act, but some states have parental leave programs that allow special benefits for self-employed people.
6. Working while on maternity leave allows you to choose when to stop working before giving birth and when to start again afterwards.
7. If you are on maternity or family leave and receiving Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP), Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP), or Shared Parental Pay (ShPP), you can work on a self-employed basis.
8. However, you cannot work while receiving maternity allowance other than 10 keeping in touch days.
9. Freelancers/self-employed professionals in the Netherlands are entitled to pregnancy and maternity leave (Zelfstandig en Zwangerregeling, ZEZ).
10. Pregnant self-employed professionals must arrange their own finances.

In general, you do not have to do income reports when on mat/parental leave, but if you do earn income, it is similar to working on a self-employed basis.

In summary, maternity leave is a right granted to employees, but self-employed individuals can still claim Maternity Allowance for up to 39 weeks.

Can you go on maternity leave twice in a row?

In the event of pregnancy during the period of maternity leave, the employee is permitted to resume work without the necessity of resuming duties. Nevertheless, it is necessary to ascertain whether it is possible to receive maternity pay once more, and to exercise the same rights as were enjoyed during the initial pregnancy. The regulations pertaining to the provision of notice and the commencement of leave remain unchanged, with employers being informed of the intention to take leave 15 weeks prior to the expected date of delivery.

Can you locum on maternity leave?

Self-employed locums can be a viable option for those taking maternity or family leave and receiving Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP), Shared Parental Pay (ShPP), or Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP). However, if the same employer performs similar or similar work on a self-employed basis, payment may be at risk as it may not appear to be genuine self-employment. If a contract allows for work outside of maternity leave, employers cannot impose clauses limiting this freedom, which could be considered maternity discrimination.

How to make income while pregnant?

The ten best pregnancy-friendly gig ideas include transcription, proofreading jobs, virtual assistant, bookkeeping, budgeting services, online tutoring, freelance writing, and course design. These jobs can help boost your bank account without requiring a full-time job. However, it’s important to avoid gigs that require heavy lifting, standing for long periods, or strenuous activity, as many options still exist.

How much maternity benefits for self-employed?

In order to calculate the SSS maternity benefits, it is necessary to add together the six highest monthly salary credits earned within a period of 12 months prior to the date of childbirth. These figures should then be divided by 180 in order to obtain the ADSC. The amount of benefits that can be obtained is determined by multiplying the ADSC by 105 for live births, whether vaginal or caesarean. In the aforementioned example, the ADSC of P666 was calculated. Thus, the resulting ADSC is 67, which equates to approximately P70, 000.

How much is self-employed maternity pay in the Netherlands?

The Maternity Benefit Scheme for the Self-Employed (ZEZ) in the Netherlands allows freelancers and self-employed professionals to receive maternity allowances during pregnancy or after childbirth. The maximum pay is 100 of the statutory gross minimum wage, depending on previous year profits and income. If working at a partner’s company, the benefit is based on the partner’s share of the company’s profits.

To apply for the ZEZ maternity benefit, applicants can apply online to the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) and should apply 4 weeks before maternity leave. Self-employed professionals, with or without employees, can apply for the maternity allowance. However, applying later may result in less benefit.

How much is self employed maternity pay UK?

Self-employed individuals can receive between £27 to £184. 03 a week for up to 39 weeks, depending on the number of Class 2 National Insurance contributions made in the 66 weeks before the baby’s due date. To qualify, individuals must be registered with HM Revenue and Customs for at least 26 weeks, have paid Class 2 National Insurance contributions for at least 13 weeks, and may receive £27 for a few weeks while their contributions are linked to their Maternity Allowance application.

Can you earn money while on maternity leave?

Legally, you can earn income through self-employment while receiving Statutory Maternity Pay from an employer, but you must check if your workplace employment contract permits this. Sophie Baldwin, a 32-year-old freelance social media manager and digital marketing consultant, continued to work while on maternity leave, feeding her newborn, changing nappies, and entertaining a crying baby on calls.

Can you go on the sick straight after maternity leave?

If you are going to return to work after 52 weeks of maternity leave, you do not need to give any notice of return. You can go back to work on the day you are due back and are entitled to your normal pay. You can take annual leave or sick leave if needed. If you want to return before the end of your maternity leave, you must give your employer at least 8 weeks’ notice of the date you will be returning. If you do not give this notice and just turn up at work before the end of your maternity leave, your employer can send you away for up to 8 weeks or until the end of your leave, whichever is earlier.

If your employer did not write back to you within 28 days of the date you gave notice to take your maternity leave stating the date that your 52 week maternity leave will end, they cannot insist on you giving 8 weeks’ notice to return to work early. You should still give as much notice as possible to help you and your employer plan your return to work.

If you decide not to return to work, you can get SMP and MA for 39 weeks even if you do not plan to go back to work or if your employment ends during the SMP/MA period, such as if you are made redundancy. You do not have to pay SMP or MA back if you decide not to return to work. If your employer has given you extra contractual maternity pay, you only have to repay it if that was agreed in advance or specifically stated in your maternity policy.

If you do not want to return to work and need to repay your occupational maternity pay, you can ask to repay any company maternity pay in reasonable instalments, taking account of your household income and outgoings. You may find it helpful to speak to a debt adviser who can help you negotiate with your employer and agree a reasonable repayment plan.

If you are unable to return to work after your maternity leave, you can take sick leave as usual. However, once you are well enough to return to work, you cannot stay off work after your maternity leave has ended, as you will lose your right to return to work if you do not go back at the end of your 52 weeks’ leave.

Ask your employer if you can take annual leave immediately after your maternity leave, which is entitled to at least 28 days paid annual leave. Your normal holiday entitlement continues to accrue during maternity leave, so you may have some holiday owing to you. Annual leave should be agreed with your employer in the normal way and you should not be treated less favorably because you have been away on annual leave.

If you returned to work early and have not used up all your maternity leave/pay but now wish to take some more leave, you could give notice to take shared parental leave. Shared parental leave can be taken by either parent but must be taken within the first year after your baby’s birth. You may be eligible for Universal Credit if you take a period of unpaid leave, depending on your household income, housing costs, and number of dependants.

You are also entitled to urgent unpaid leave to care for a dependant in an emergency. The leave can be used if a dependant falls ill, gives birth, is injured, or there is a sudden problem with arrangements for the dependant (e. g., if your childminder falls ill). You are only entitled to take the time off necessary to deal with the emergency and to make arrangements for the care of the dependant.

If you have been on maternity leave and sick leave for a long time, you may have accrued a large amount of leave. You can take annual leave during sick leave, so you could ask to receive some paid holiday during your sick leave. You are entitled to carry forward 20 days annual leave if you cannot take it because of sick leave.

You cannot take annual leave during maternity leave, but you can end your maternity leave early, giving at least 8 weeks’ notice to end your maternity leave early and agreeing your annual leave with your employer in the usual way. It is a good idea to talk to your employer early in your pregnancy to agree when you will be taking your annual leave so that you can both plan in advance.

The government advises that employers should allow up to 28 days of statutory leave for employees who cannot take all their annual leave in the leave year due to absence on maternity leave, shared parental leave, or other types of parental leave. If your employer offers more than the statutory minimum of 28 days annual leave, it is up to your employer how much of your contractual annual leave (over and above the statutory 28 days) you can carry forward.

If you are not well enough to return to work at the end of maternity leave, you are entitled to receive sick pay if you are not well enough to return to work. You should follow your employer’s normal sickness reporting procedures at the end of maternity leave. Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is paid after four consecutive days of sickness absence to employees who have earnings of at least £123 per week (April 2024 – April 2025) in the previous 8 weeks.

You are not entitled to SSP for any period of sickness that began during the 39 week SMP period (or 18 weeks if you were not entitled to SMP). If your period of sickness begins after the end of the 39 or 18 week SMP period, you may qualify for SSP if your earnings were high enough. If you claim SSP after the end of your 39 week Statutory Maternity Pay period, SMP counts as earnings. Maternity Allowance does not count as earnings.

If you do not qualify for SSP, your employer should give you form SSP1. If you do not qualify for SSP, you should get advice from your local Jobcentre Plus or Citizens’ Advice Bureau.

Once your maternity leave has ended, you are treated as if you are “back at work”, even if you are not well enough to actually go into work. You are entitled to take sick leave and should be treated in the same way as any other employee who is off sick.

You are protected against pregnancy/maternity discrimination throughout pregnancy until the end of your maternity leave period (up to 52 weeks or until you return to work, if earlier). For pregnancy/maternity discrimination, you need to show that you were treated unfavorably because of your pregnancy, pregnancy-related illness, or absence on maternity leave. You can also claim pregnancy/maternity discrimination where a decision was taken during your protected period even where it was implemented after the end of your maternity leave.

How to get money when on maternity leave?

It is common practice for employers to provide short-term disability insurance programs, which offer financial protection for employees who are unable to work. Such policies may provide coverage for a portion of an employee’s income, typically between 50 and 100 percent, for a period of up to six weeks following childbirth. In the event of a C-section, the coverage period may be extended. In the event of complications, the coverage period may be extended further.

What is the maximum maternity leave in the Netherlands?

The mother has the right to 16 weeks of leave, including 6 weeks of pregnancy leave before the baby’s birth and 10 weeks of maternity leave after the baby’s birth. If the baby is born before pregnancy leave, the 16 weeks of leave start the day after birth. Pregnant employees are encouraged to start pregnancy leave six weeks before birth, but taking leave four weeks before the child’s birth can add two weeks to maternity leave.