Your BasketEmployees can get paternity leave and pay. What can the self-employed do to take time off when their baby is born?
| The basics |
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 There is no right to statutory paternity leave for the self-employed - you have to plan and pay for it yourself. |
Only employees with employment contracts are entitled to statutory paternity pay. There is no equivalent for self-employed dads to claim.
So if you are self-employed you are going to have to plan ahead to have time off at the birth of your baby.
How much time to have off
This decision may be based on what you can afford, or you might need to take longer off to look after older children or if your partner is going to have a Caesarean (in which case she'll need a lot of support from you)
Then work out what you are going to need to live off. Remember there will be extra expenses, like parking fees at the hospital, and that your partner will be on reduced pay if she is on maternity leave.
The sooner you start to put money away the less you will have to put away each week.
How much to save
You can obviously take time off your work when the baby is born - you are your own boss. There is a way to fund your paternity leave...
Assuming you find out about the pregnancy in the second month, you'll have seven months to save. We recommend you save about five per cent of your monthly income for each week you want to fund.
Other sources of money
| Useful Link |
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| Government Paternity Leave information |
Get some advice about what benefits you will be able to claim. How much will you be able to claim in tax credits? Can you claim the Sure Start Maternity Grant?
Working Families - What to claim for a new child fact sheet explains about benefits you can get when you have a new baby.
Nothing for the self employed? Not happy? Complain!
If you think it's unfair that there is no paternity pay for self-employed men, write to your MP. It won't help you now, but it might help dads in the future.
Author
Catherine Rogan has worked for Working Families' advice service for four years. She runs the e-dads service where dads can receive advice on working rights by e-mail or text message on 07800 00 4722. She lives in Surrey with her partner and one son.
Your tips and experiences
Are you self-employed? What did you do about paternity leave? Have you got any good ideas or experiences that you can share with other self-employed dads?
Comments
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Posted: Thursday, 02 April 2009 - 12:18 AM
Name: chris
1.Please don’t expect any help from the government as they know you are already independent enough to fend for yourself.
2.Do not expect to spend any time with your newborn as you will have to work extra hard to allow others to have paternity leave.
3.Your reward for this sacrifice is complete financial uncertainty and of course no state support (jobseeker’s allowance) should your income stream dry up. Don’t forget safety nets are for the employed and rich bankers!
Posted: Wednesday, 08 April 2009 - 12:43 AM
Name: Aidan
Well said Chris (below) I hate having to spend time having to sign up to websites using dodgy and eligible capcha puzzles and linking back through my email account just to post on forums but I felt I had to congratulate you on articulately posting the thoughts of those of us that have to carry this country and pay for those also who make all the inept decisions.
I run a holiday buisness and have sod all chance of paternity leave although to be honest my family lives on the premises.
Posted: Tuesday, 21 April 2009 - 09:36 PM
Name: Simon
I'm a freelancer but I run my own limited company (of which I'm the sole director and employee), pay myself a regular salary (my accountant handles my payroll and sends me a monthly payslip) and make employee's NI contributions as well as employer's contributions each month.
Can anyone please tell me whether or not I'm eligible to claim paternity leave pay from the government? Or can you point me in the right direction for more specific advice?
Posted: Tuesday, 19 January 2010 - 07:02 PM
Name: Craig
I totally agree with Chris,
I am 29 years old and have been self employed for three years now. I think it is disgusting that after 12 years of been in full time work paying all of my taxes, Without claiming from the goverment for one penny I will get not one ounce of support from them.We are due in May and still dont know what I am going to do as dont want to miss time with my child, and dont have the money not to worry especially in the current climate.
Posted: Wednesday, 24 February 2010 - 08:32 AM
Name: Chris
I have just written to my mp via their website:
www.writetothem.com
the letter should include:
- self employed people should be offered statutory paternity pay
- self employed people pay income tax so should be offered the same statutory rights as employed workers
- self employed people should also be offered statutory sick pay
Good luck