_{Are you self employed and planning for a baby?}

_{When you’re self-employed, taking time off to have a baby can bring up questions long before you’re ready to start a family.}

How much money would you need to put aside? What happens if you need to finish work earlier than planned? And what do you tell the clients who rely on you every week?

Whether you’re a freelance groom, rider, instructor, house sitter or hound carer, you can start answering those questions now. Here’s how maternity support works in the UK and how to build a plan around your own bills, bookings and plans for returning to work.

Can you get maternity pay if you’re freelance?

If you’re self-employed, you may be able to claim Maternity Allowance to help cover your bills while you take time off to have your baby. It’s paid by the government and can help cover your bills while you take time off to have a baby.

For a claim based on self-employment, you’ll generally need to have been registered as self-employed with HMRC for at least 26 of the 66 weeks before your baby is due. For the full rate, you generally need 13 weeks of qualifying Class 2 National Insurance contributions within that same period. Depending on your profits and National Insurance record, contributions can count as paid even if you didn’t have to pay them directly.

For the 2026/27 tax year, a qualifying self-employed freelancer can receive £27 to £194.32 a week for up to 39 weeks. If your record falls short, HMRC can tell you after you apply whether paying additional Class 2 contributions could increase your payment. If you’ve moved between employment and freelancing, or recently stopped working, check your entitlement before assuming you’ve missed out.

If you also have a PAYE job, or your own limited company pays you a salary through payroll, check whether you qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay through that employment. You can’t claim Maternity Allowance for the same pregnancy if you qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay.

GOV.UK eligibility and rates · Maternity entitlement calculator

Work out what taking time off would actually cost

Start with the amount you’ll need each month, rather than trying to replace everything you normally invoice. List your share of the household bills, food and transport, then add the business costs that will continue while you’re away. That might include insurance, accountancy fees, vehicle finance or your own horse’s livery. Include baby essentials and any childcare costs or deposits you expect when you return.

Subtract the income you can reasonably count on, such as Maternity Allowance and any agreed household contribution. The difference is what your savings need to cover.

For example, if you need £1,450 a month and expect £850 a month in reliable income, your shortfall is £600. Six months off would mean saving £3,600, before adding a buffer. If you had a year to build that pot, the target would be £300 a month. Use your own figures and plan for the dates the money actually arrives. Maternity Allowance is normally paid every two or four weeks.

Try a second version of the budget where you stop taking bookings a month earlier or return a month later. For a freelancer who earns most of their income from riding, mucking out or handling horses, that extra month can make a real difference to the amount you’ll need.

Start putting money aside while you’re earning

Open a separate, easy-access savings pot and give it a name you’ll recognise. If your income varies, setting aside a percentage of each paid invoice may be easier than committing to the same amount every month. Use busier periods, such as clipping season or holiday cover, to add more when you can. Keep your tax money in a separate pot so you know how much is available for time off.

Before your break, invoice promptly for completed work and follow up on overdue payments. If you’re already pregnant and have less time to save, start with the bills falling due before you expect your first payment. That will show you where the immediate gap is and how much breathing room you have.

Check what else your household might qualify for

• Child Benefit is worth checking once your baby is born. If you or your partner has a higher income, check how the High Income Child Benefit Charge may affect you. GOV.UK Child Benefit guide
• Universal Credit depends on household circumstances, including income and savings. Maternity Allowance reduces Universal Credit pound for pound, so use a benefits calculator before counting both payments in your budget. GOV.UK benefits calculators · How Maternity Allowance affects other benefits
• Sure Start Maternity Grant is a one-off £500 payment for eligible families, usually when you’re expecting your first child and you or your partner receive a qualifying benefit. Scotland has its own Pregnancy and Baby Payment. GOV.UK Sure Start Maternity Grant

Know what insurance can cover

Income protection is designed to help if illness or injury prevents you from working. For planned time off to have a baby, budget using savings and any benefits you qualify for. If you’re considering insurance for pregnancy-related complications or other unexpected illness, ask the insurer to confirm in writing what it covers, how long you’d have to wait before a payment starts, and whether it covers your actual work, including riding or handling horses if that’s part of your job.

MoneyHelper guide to insurance for self-employed people

Apply once you’re 26 weeks pregnant

You can apply for Maternity Allowance from 26 weeks of pregnancy, using the MA1 claim form. You’ll usually need evidence of your due date, such as a MAT B1 certificate from your midwife or doctor. Payments can start from 11 weeks before your due date. GOV.UK advises claiming within three months of your Maternity Allowance start date to get your full entitlement.

GOV.UK claim instructions and form

Make a plan for bookings and regular clients

Look through your diary for recurring yard shifts, holiday cover and house sits that could fall close to the point you want to stop. When you’re ready to discuss your plans, give regular clients a provisional date so they have time to arrange cover. If you recommend another freelancer, agree with the client who will make the booking and pass on any routines, emergency contacts or access details.

You can do up to 10 keeping-in-touch days across your whole Maternity Allowance period without affecting the payment. A short spell of work can count as a full day, so factor in business admin as well as paid bookings. Keep a record and report any work to Jobcentre Plus. If you go beyond 10 days, it can affect your payments.

When you’re budgeting for your return, allow for a gradual restart. If you go back for two mornings a week, work out what those mornings would bring in after travel and childcare before committing to more.

GOV.UK rules on working while claiming Maternity Allowance · Detailed government guidance

If having a baby is still a someday plan, start with one month of bank statements and your current National Insurance record. Knowing what it costs to keep your household and business ticking over gives you a figure to save towards, even before you know when you might need it.

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