Keeping in Touch Days: Essential Rules for Self-Employed Mums

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If you are self-employed and receiving Maternity Allowance, you do not necessarily have to stop working completely when your baby arrives. You can work for up to 10 keeping in touch days (KIT days) during your Maternity Allowance period without losing your entitlement to the allowance for those days.

This is particularly useful if you run a small business, work as a freelancer or operate as a sole trader and need to maintain some contact with clients while looking after your baby. However, there are strict rules about what counts as work, how the 10-day allowance operates and what happens if you exceed it.

Understanding these rules before starting maternity leave can help you plan your business activities, manage your income and avoid problems with your Maternity Allowance payments.

Table of contents

1. What are keeping in touch days for self-employed women?
2. How many KIT days can you use?
3. What work can you do during Maternity Allowance?
4. Can you run your business while receiving Maternity Allowance?
5. What happens if you work more than 10 days?
6. Do you need to report KIT days to Jobcentre Plus?
7. Frequently asked questions

What are keeping in touch days for self-employed women?

Keeping in touch days are special working days that allow you to undertake work while receiving Maternity Allowance without automatically losing your benefit.

They are commonly known as KIT days.

For self-employed women, these days are particularly useful because running a business does not always allow you to switch everything off for several months.

For example, you might need to respond to an important client, complete some outstanding work, attend a business meeting or deal with essential administration.

The rules allow you to work for up to 10 days during your Maternity Allowance period without affecting the amount of Maternity Allowance you receive.

Unlike employees, who normally need to agree KIT days with their employer, self-employed women can decide for themselves when to use their permitted days.

You can use them:

• Individually throughout your maternity period.
• In blocks of two or more consecutive days.
• At the beginning or towards the end of your Maternity Allowance period.
• For business administration, client work or other genuine business activities.

The 10-day allowance applies to your entire Maternity Allowance period, not 10 days for each month, client or business.

If you are planning your finances around having a baby, it is also worth understanding what financial support may be available to your partner. Our guide to paternity leave for self-employed people explains the different arrangements.

How many KIT days can you use?

If you receive Maternity Allowance for up to 39 weeks, you can work for a maximum of 10 days during that period without losing your Maternity Allowance.

However, there is an important rule that many self-employed people overlook.

Any work carried out on a particular day counts as one complete KIT day, regardless of how long you spend working.

For example:

Business activity	KIT days used
Working for a client for 7 hours	1
Completing bookkeeping for 2 hours	1
Answering business emails for 30 minutes	1
Attending a business meeting for 1 hour	1
Completing invoices and chasing payments	1

This means that working for just 30 minutes can use up one of your 10 permitted days.

It is therefore worth planning your activities carefully rather than carrying out small amounts of work every day.

For example, instead of checking emails each morning, you could arrange one dedicated business administration day each month.

This would allow you to deal with several tasks on the same day while using fewer of your available KIT days.

What work can you do during Maternity Allowance?

If you are self-employed, KIT days can cover different types of business activities.

There is no requirement to carry out the same work you normally do. You can use the days for activities that help maintain your business or prepare for your eventual return to work.

Examples include:

Client work

• Completing outstanding projects.
• Providing services to existing customers.
• Responding to client enquiries.
• Attending client meetings.

Business administration

• Preparing invoices.
• Chasing outstanding payments.
• Updating bookkeeping records.
• Processing business transactions.
• Responding to business emails.

Business management

• Checking business performance.
• Managing subcontractors.
• Arranging future appointments.
• Reviewing business plans.
• Organising work for when you return.

All these activities can count as work, even if you do not receive any payment on the day.

It is important to remember that the number of days you work matters, not how much money you earn from those activities.

Can you run your business while receiving Maternity Allowance?

This is one of the most important questions for self-employed mothers.

The short answer is that you can undertake limited business activities using your 10 permitted KIT days, but you should not continue running your business as normal throughout your Maternity Allowance period.

For example, imagine you operate a small online business.

You have several existing customers and receive orders while you are taking maternity leave.

You might be able to arrange for someone else to handle the day-to-day activities while you concentrate on looking after your baby.

However, if you regularly deal with customer enquiries, process orders, arrange deliveries and manage the business yourself, these activities could count as work.

You should therefore be careful about assuming that small administrative tasks do not count.

What if your business continues earning money while you are on maternity leave?

Receiving money from your business does not automatically mean you have worked.

For example, you might receive payment from a client for work that you completed before your Maternity Allowance period started.

The payment arriving in your bank account does not, by itself, use a KIT day.

Similarly, your business might continue generating income through work completed by employees or subcontractors while you are away.

However, actively managing the business, chasing invoices, dealing with customers or processing transactions can count as work.

The distinction is between receiving income from existing business activity and personally carrying out work during your Maternity Allowance period.

If you are unsure whether a particular activity counts as work, contact the Maternity Allowance team before undertaking it.

What happens if you work more than 10 days?

You need to be particularly careful about exceeding the 10-day limit.

If you work more than 10 days during your Maternity Allowance period, you may lose some or all of your remaining Maternity Allowance.

However, it is not necessarily an automatic cancellation of the entire claim.

Under the Social Security (Maternity Allowance) Regulations, the Department for Work and Pensions can disqualify you from receiving Maternity Allowance for a reasonable period. This must be at least the number of days you worked above the permitted 10 days.

For example, imagine you have used all 10 KIT days and then work another three days.

The Department for Work and Pensions will consider your circumstances and decide the period for which you are disqualified.

You should not assume that you can simply pay back three days of Maternity Allowance and continue receiving the rest as normal.

If you exceed the allowance, contact Jobcentre Plus and wait for a decision about your entitlement.

You can read the relevant rules in the Social Security (Maternity Allowance) Regulations 1987.

Do you need to report KIT days to Jobcentre Plus?

Yes. If you receive Maternity Allowance, you must report any work you undertake during your Maternity Allowance period.

This includes:

• Working in your own self-employed business.
• Taking on work for another employer.
• Working for a new client.
• Undertaking KIT days.
• Participating in the business of your self-employed spouse or civil partner.

You should report the work as soon as possible rather than waiting until your maternity payments have finished.

You can contact the Maternity Allowance team by telephone or report your change of circumstances by post.

Maternity Allowance helpline:

0800 169 0283

Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm.

You can also read the official GOV.UK guidance on reporting changes while receiving Maternity Allowance.

Failing to report changes could result in your allowance being reduced or stopped. You might also have to repay an overpayment and could receive a £50 fine.

Frequently asked questions about keeping in touch days

Can I work for my own business while receiving Maternity Allowance?

Yes. You can undertake self-employed work for up to 10 days during your Maternity Allowance period without losing your allowance for those days.

Can I work for a client for just one hour?

Yes, but the entire day counts as one KIT day, even if you only work for one hour.

Can I spread my 10 KIT days across 39 weeks?

Yes. You can use your days individually or together, depending on your business requirements. There is no requirement to use all 10 days.

Can I receive payments from clients without using KIT days?

Yes. Receiving payment for work completed before your Maternity Allowance period does not automatically count as working. However, carrying out additional business activities, such as invoicing, chasing payments or managing clients, may count as work.

Does the amount I earn on KIT days affect my Maternity Allowance?

No. The amount you receive for work undertaken on your permitted KIT days does not affect the amount of Maternity Allowance you receive. The important factor is how many days you work.

Is Maternity Allowance taxable?

No. Maternity Allowance is not subject to Income Tax or National Insurance. You do not need to include it as taxable income on your Self Assessment tax return.

However, your normal self-employment profits remain subject to the usual tax rules.

Can I use KIT days if I am a limited company director?

It depends on your employment status and how you receive maternity payments. If you work through your own limited company and receive a salary through PAYE, you may qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay rather than Maternity Allowance. The employment-based KIT rules are different, so check your position before relying on the 10-day Maternity Allowance rules.

Conclusion: Plan your KIT days carefully when self-employed

Taking maternity leave when you run your own business can be challenging, particularly if you have regular clients, outstanding work or ongoing business responsibilities.

Fortunately, keeping in touch days allow you to undertake some work while receiving Maternity Allowance.

The main rules to remember are:

• You can work for up to 10 days during your Maternity Allowance period without losing your allowance.
• Any work on a particular day counts as one complete day, even if you only work for a short time.
• The 10-day allowance covers all your employment and self-employment work combined.
• You can decide when to use your permitted days.
• Receiving business income does not automatically mean you have worked.
• You must report work to Jobcentre Plus.
• Working beyond 10 days can affect your remaining Maternity Allowance.

Planning your business activities in advance can help you make the most of your permitted days while protecting your maternity benefit entitlement.

Need help managing your self-employed finances?

Having a baby can make managing a business and keeping up with tax responsibilities more difficult.

At Better Account, we provide practical accounting and Self Assessment support for sole traders and small businesses. Whether you need help understanding your tax obligations, organising your bookkeeping or preparing your annual tax return, we can help you keep your finances organised.

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