Oh dear! Im in real trouble now! HELP.

[Tiggy26]

Hi,

I will try and keep this as short and sweet as possible.

I have already come to to the end of my maternity leave from a full time day job. My OH also works full time.

We decided that I was going to hand my notice in to my current employer so that I could stay at home with our son and look after him rather than put him into a nursery. I was then going to apply for a couple of night shifts at a local supermarket to bring in a few pennies. OH will continue to work as before.

I then found out I was pregnant a few days ago (im around 4 weeks at the moment)

Problem I have now is, my notice and contract has now ended with my employer. I am getting no money what so ever, except for child benifit (around £60pm) and the salary my OH bring home every month which is around £2000. Our mortage is high and the bills are not cheap either.

My question is......what am I entitled to now that I am not working and pregnant??? How do I claim for things??? Im quite scared as our intentions were to wait a while before having another baby and boost our savings again and for me to go back to work and it hasnt quite worked that way for us. Im clueless about benifits and have never claimed for anything before so I dont know what im doing

Any help much appreciated xx

 

[mary70]

hi hun you may well be entitled to child tax credits but thats about it if you go on their website you can fill a form in and it tells you what you will be entitled too if anything

 

[Mik]

If you go back to work and earn the minimum weekly wage for NI contributions (can't remember exactly how much sorry) then even though you wouldn't get SMP as the job starts after your pregnancy you will be able to get maternity allowance and will still qualify for maternity leave. You do not need to tell any prospective employers that you are pregnant and to be honest most people wouldn't know they were yet anyhow.

 

[valentine]

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

You'll be entitled to Maternity Allowance, which is £117 a week for 39 weeks (9 months), not that different to SMP. You can start this from 29 weeks pregnant up til your due date and carry it on for the next 39 weeks. Its not a fortune, but it'll help.

Here's the link - clicky

You are entitled to this as youhave been employed in at least 26 weeks out of the 66 week period running into the week before the week your baby is due (when you were on maternity leave with your first baby, you were still classed as being employed).

Child benefit is £75.20 every 4 weeks for one child and £125 (I think) every 4 weeks for 2 children. Do you claim tax credits, you may be eligible for these. Basic tax credits are £82 every 4 weeks for a child under 1 and £41 every 4 weeks for a child over 1. So if you have a 1 year old and a newborn, you could be getting another £123 every 4 weeks PLUS child benefit of £125.

I hope this helps.

Valentine Xxx

 

[Tiggy26]

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

You'll be entitled to Maternity Allowance, which is £117 a week for 39 weeks (9 months), not that different to SMP. You can start this from 29 weeks pregnant up til your due date and carry it on for the next 39 weeks. Its not a fortune, but it'll help.

Here's the link - clicky

You are entitled to this as youhave been employed in at least 26 weeks out of the 66 week period running into the week before the week your baby is due (when you were on maternity leave with your first baby, you were still classed as being employed).

Child benefit is £75.20 every 4 weeks for one child and £125 (I think) every 4 weeks for 2 children. Do you claim tax credits, you may be eligible for these. Basic tax credits are £82 every 4 weeks for a child under 1 and £41 every 4 weeks for a child over 1. So if you have a 1 year old and a newborn, you could be getting another £123 every 4 weeks PLUS child benefit of £125.

I hope this helps.

Valentine Xxx

Hi Valentine,

Thank you so much for this information. I will getting in touch with my local CAB to have a chat about it all and get the ball rolling. Do you know if the CAB give all the forms or if do I have to apply for all of this myself??

Thanks

T xx

 

[Sherlock]

I had to contact the local Jobcentre who gave out a national number you call and ask for the forms. CAB don't have that kind of paperwork.

Call your local Jobcentre and tell them you want to apply and who do you contact. They will help you.

 

[valentine]

Hi Tiggy,

I work for CAB so perfect person to ask! They will help you source the forms, of course.

However if you do want to tackle it yourself, here is the claim form for Maternity Allowance (MA):-

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/advisers/claimforms/ma1.pdf

Here is the info you need for tax credits (you can claim this now as you already have a child, but this will go up a fair bit once you have number 2):-

http://www.taxcredits.inlandrevenue.gov ... edits.aspx

Good luck!

Valentine Xxx