We pay freelance (self employed) tutors to deliver dance workshops during term times. One of our tutors is pregnant and is trying to claim maternity allowance. She was told by the Job Centre that even though she is freelance she may be entitled to SMP by us as she has worked with us for over 3 years. I am happy to pay her SMP but can not work out from all the various websites if she is eligible. She works for 3, ten week terms a year, with long gaps particularly over the summer and we pay her approx 240 per week. I dont know if this counts as continuous service. The baby is due in October and our end of term is June 28th. She isn't currently planning on returning in September but would for a few weeks if that would make her eligible. If she isnt eligible for SMP, she needs to prove that she worked for us for 26 weeks to get Maternity allowance. Sorry to ask another question about maternity pay but there seems to be very little information about self employed status.

The charity I am working with have some European funding and some issues have been raised. The charity is 'contracted' by a university in Malta as one of a number of partners. The charity made the bid identifying that the work would be done by a consultant. The consultant, when they submitted their report to the commissioning partner, has been told that consultant's fees are not eligible but it would be alright if he was on payroll. Clearly we cannot back date payroll payments in lieu of consultants fees. If we put the consultant on the payroll what are the forward implications (or indeed retrospective). This individual is also contracted for other work by the charity as well.