Where do i stand??

Phil_rich · 28 January 2005 at 2:31PM

Afternoon Everyone,

Great site with brilliant info so i was hoping someone would be able to help me out.

My situation is i live at home and have a long term girlfriend, we have now found out she is pregnant, so we will need to move into our own house/flat as there is not enough room in my parents house. Due to the pregnancy my girlfriend will be giving up work when the baby is due, so she can look after it. This will mean my income will be the only one we have and it is only £11,500before tax (gross).

So i was wandering if someone could tell me what benefits we would be entitled to?? i am aged 21 and my g/f is 18 if that makes any difference?

Many thanks for your help.

Phil

Fran · 28 January 2005 at 3:52PM

Hi Phil,

You can find information about benefits on the Citizens Advice Website

With a child you get Child Benefit (which every parent gets) and as you are working you can claim for Working Tax Credits & Child Tax Credits. See "Useful links" at the top of this board for Tax Credits etc. websites.

Is your girlfriend getting the maternity benefits she might be entitled to? You could look at the http://www.maternityalliance.org.uk website.

irs101 · 28 January 2005 at 4:39PM

Phil

At that income level you will be entitled to maximum Child Tax Credit - which, for a full tax year, is £2,175 for one child. Plus, for the first year once you have your baby, you will get an additional £547.50.

You'll also be entitled to some Working Tax Credit. I estimate around £1,300 a year.

The actual amount will be a bit more, because the amounts will uprated in April.

When you claim, they will ask you for your 2003/04 income (assuming the baby is being born after April). With you taking an income reduction, make sure you give them an updated estimate for 2004/05 - i.e. tell them you future earnings are £11.5K a year. That way you'll get the full amount straight away.

Incidentally, if your girlfriend ever wanted to do a bit of part-time work, because of your income level you would probably be entitled to the childcare element of WTC (as long as you use registered childcare). That would pay for 70% of the childcare costs. Just something to bear in mind.

Good luck

irs

Phil_rich · 28 January 2005 at 5:23PM

Thanks alot for your help, thats a great help. I can now go to the CAB tomorrow and ask about these benefits with a relative understanding of the rough levels.

One more question would be in relation to housing benefit.

Would we be entitled to this aswell?? as 2 bedroom flats around here are roughly £380 per month to rent, which is half of my monthly pay.

Many thanks once again for your help.

Phil

Fran · 28 January 2005 at 5:38PM

You may be entitled to Housing Benefit, there's no harm in putting in for it, the problem is that you will have to have a property in mind first before they can tell you whether you will be entitled. CAB will explain. Put in for Council Tax Benefit too.

Where do i stand??

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