Paternity Leave

[doodab]

I refer to returning from paternity leave as a work break.

I call it a relief

[DodgyAgent]

Just been speaking to one of the permies here.

"So i hear you're taking paternity leave soon.... blah blah blah"

It's not paternity leave, i'm having a bit of a break.

Didn't want to go through the rigmoral of trying to explain differences between contractor and employee, so i'm having a rant here instead.

Use it to work on getting your Golf up to scratch

[kingcook]

Use it to work on getting your Golf up to scratch

Is this what you do while "your" contractors are out there earning you your margin?

[Nixon Williams]

You are entitled to paternity leave, ask your accountant.

Contractors certainly can claim Statutory Paternity Pay:

SPP is paid to partners who take time off to care for the baby or support the mother in the first few weeks after the birth.
It is available to:
• a biological father
• a partner/husband or civil partner who is not the baby’s biological father
• a mother’s female partner in a same sex couple;

The partner must have
• given 28 days notice of his paternity leave (unless with good reason)
• provided a declaration of family commitment on form SC3
• been employed continuously for 26 weeks up to and including his qualifying week
• had average weekly earnings above the Lower Earnings Limit in the relevant period.

The Amount Payable

SPP is payable for a maximum of 2 weeks and must be taken in one block i.e. as 1 week or 2 but not 2 single weeks with a working week in between. It is payable at the following rate in 2012/13:
• the lower of:
- 90% of Average Weekly Earnings
- £135.45 per week

SPP is treated as normal pay and taxed accordingly.

So contractors taking a salary of £7488 will be able to claim the £135.45 from HMRC, via their company. Just ask your accountant, whilst it is not a fortune, it all helps.

Alan

[psychocandy]

So Im guessing contractor would continue with same salary to himself but company gets to keep the £135? (Same as a lot of employees who may get full pay from their employer instead but employer keeps SPP).

Got me thinking. Does the same apply for Statutory Sick pay? I know this doesn't kick in for 4 days though (and its only £86).

If you are genuinely sick and can't work, might be easier to claim this through your limited rather than the rigmarole of JSA. Of course, pretty sure you'd need a doctors note.

Not suggesting everyone whos contract ends gets down the docs asap of course!

[psychocandy]

Contractors certainly can claim Statutory Paternity Pay:

SPP is paid to partners who take time off to care for the baby or support the mother in the first few weeks after the birth.
It is available to:
• a biological father
• a partner/husband or civil partner who is not the baby’s biological father
• a mother’s female partner in a same sex couple;

The partner must have
• given 28 days notice of his paternity leave (unless with good reason)
• provided a declaration of family commitment on form SC3
• been employed continuously for 26 weeks up to and including his qualifying week
• had average weekly earnings above the Lower Earnings Limit in the relevant period.

The Amount Payable

SPP is payable for a maximum of 2 weeks and must be taken in one block i.e. as 1 week or 2 but not 2 single weeks with a working week in between. It is payable at the following rate in 2012/13:
• the lower of:
- 90% of Average Weekly Earnings
- £135.45 per week

SPP is treated as normal pay and taxed accordingly.

So contractors taking a salary of £7488 will be able to claim the £135.45 from HMRC, via their company. Just ask your accountant, whilst it is not a fortune, it all helps.

Alan

And, of course, its not worth the risk for £270 of claiming this and continue to rock up at clients site. ;-)

I guess it is a grey area for company directors though.

[TheFaQQer]

Just been speaking to one of the permies here.

"So i hear you're taking paternity leave soon.... blah blah blah"

It's not paternity leave, i'm having a bit of a break.

Didn't want to go through the rigmoral of trying to explain differences between contractor and employee, so i'm having a rant here instead.

Just tell them it can't be paternity, since it's not yours.

[d000hg]

If you take the time off, it seems silly not to claim the £270 if the paperwork's not to onerous.

[northernladuk]

If you take the time off, it seems silly not to claim the £270 if the paperwork's not to onerous.

Amen to that.

[vetran]

wife is taking a couple of months off, she will be claiming Maternity leave.

Its free money and fairly easily to claim.

for Ltd owners just declare some dividends on top. You can up your salary for the rest of the year or give yourself a post pregnancy salary bonus.