Maternity? Benefits? Ahh so much to think about...

[rachel8572]

Hi everyone. Have you thought about how long you will have off for maternity leave yet? I would love to do 9 months but am worried about whether I can afford it.

I have had a bad time with the baby's dad since becoming pregnant he has become aggressive and violent so i have chosen not to have anything to do with him. I would rather not have a penny off him and do it on my own. Worried about my baby seein violence in his next relationship and am not prepared for it to happen.

Anyway... a bit off topic... but I have my own mortgage in my name and outgoings will be around £900 so not sure what I will be entitled to and whether benefits I receive as a single parent will be enough to help me for the whole 9 months. If not I will be returnin to work as a primary school teacher for 3 days until the baby is old enough to go to pre-school/school. Just contacted benefits people today and they want to know what I will earn in total for next tax year in April so just waitin for payroll to email it all back to me. So much to sort and worry about now I am doing it alone. Just hope I can survive xx

 

[keepontrying]

hi hun, similar financial situation for me too. Its so daunting and scary but i will tell you what i know.

My situation was 'helped' by the fact that I was in a new job so did not qualify for any company pay such as ssp or maternity, so this led to me being able to claim ESA benefit, that in turn led me to collecct mortgage relief, Speak with your bank as a matter of urgency, get a payment holiday for 6 monhs - they shoul dbe very undertsanding and would rather you were honest and did this than to struggle and get behind.

Whilst our situations are different, i just want to say that I appreciate your panic and concern and know that its simply just a hellish time.

xx

 

[rachel8572]

thanks for ur reply. i have asked if i can do a mortgage holiday but they've said no cos its a first time buyers scheme. just waitin to find out how much ill earn between 5th april this yr n next yr cos this is wot information tax credit people want to know when i rang them last week. hopefully ill have a better idea once pay roll have got bk to me. hope ur ok xx