Hi just wondering if anyone knows whether you can still work (just a few hours) when on maternity leave and claiming SMP? Thanks.

Thats a very good question which I was wondering too because I was thinking of doing some charity work to pass the time.

You can do charity work, i did alot of charity work whilse on income support and job seekers, it was fine as there wasnt any income from it (travel expnses dont count)
Not sure about paid working though.

Paid work is out, I'm afraid.

Best you can hope for is "keeping in touch days" at your old work and getting paid for them.

I think you can actually, im sure when they changed the maternity leave to 9mths they made it so you could do a few hours of work and it wouldnt effect your smp.

Sorry totally ignore that, i must of dreamt that id read that somewhere!!!!!

no this is true, in the uk anyway...

However, if the week your baby is expected to be born starts on or after 1 April 2007, you are entitled to do up to ten days work during your maternity leave without losing maternity pay or bringing your leave to an end.

quoted from: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/...ay/DG_10039631

hope this helps

h x

Yes but only keeping in touch days with your existing employer. You can't get another job to supplement your income.

thanks for your replies. Think voluntary work is the way forwards for me as want to get my foot in somewhere else.

you could if the extra money is really needed, get a cash in hand job while your on maternity. obiously if its cash in hand it doesnt go through any books.