The Prime Minister has pledged to review the UK's parental leave and pay policies.
We're campaigning for the self-employed to be part of that conversation, and for them to get a fair deal at the end of it.
We've written to the government calling for the review to also cover the parental pay offer for the self-employed, and for three crucial changes to be made.
What we're calling for
Equal maternity pay for the self-employed
New mothers who are self-employed can claim the Maternity Allowance. But unlike employees, who get 90% of their earnings for the first six weeks under Statutory Maternity Pay, the self-employed do not get this level of support.
Why should self-employed mothers get less?
We're campaigning for self-employed mothers to receive 90% of their average weekly earnings for the first six weeks after giving birth, just as they would if they were an employee, based on a reference period or previous tax return.
Extend paternity pay to self-employed fathers
Every father should have the opportunity to spend valuable time with their newborns, regardless of whether they employ themselves or are employed by someone else.
But self-employed dads are not eligible for even a basic level of paternity pay if they pause work to support mother and baby.
We're calling on government to extend paternity pay to the self-employed, so that more fathers can afford to support mothers and bond with their babies.
Extend adoption pay to the self-employed
Self-employed adopters are unable to access Adoption Pay, despite it being a statutory benefit for employees. Government should rectify this so that self-employed individuals considering adoption are not put off by this shortfall in entitlements due to their employment status.
How to write to your MP
Have a story to share? Be a case study in our campaign
We want to feature your stories in our campaign. If you're a self-employed parent who felt short changed by the parental pay system, tell us a bit about your story and how you were impacted.
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What we've said about self-employed parents
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