Written Question·Department for Work and Pensions·UIN 189906
Maternity Pay: Self-employed
Tabled: 15 June 2023
Answered: 23 June 2023
Question
Feryal Clark
Labour — Enfield North
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending statutory maternity pay to self-employed people.
Answer
Mims DaviesThere are no plans to extend Statutory Maternity Pay to self-employed people. Statutory Maternity Pay forms part of a package of employment rights and protections available specifically to the employed. These rights do not extend to the self-employed because of the difference in the nature of the employment.
Women who are self-employed and expecting, can apply for Maternity Allowance to support them to take a break from their business prior to, and after, giving birth.