Help with benefits whilst on unpaid maternity leave

wotnext

My paid maternity leave is due to end at the beginning of next year. Due to unforeseen circumstances I won't be ready to return to work at that point so need to go on to unpaid maternity leave for a while. Will my housing benefit and child tax credit increase to make up for what I am losing temporarily in pay? How can I calculate whether I will be losing money because we can't afford to at the moment?

bestpud

Are you actually leaving your job, or just taking extended maternity leave?

Your income would need to be pretty low to claim HB. Are you getting HB now? Because if you are, then I'm not sure why you are only getting the basic element of ctc (as in your other thread)?

wotnext

I was able to take 6 months paid maternity leave and thereafter up to a further 6 months approx on unpaid maternity leave, at which point I either return to work or leave. At the beginning of next year the paid part of my mat leave ends and I'll be unpaid until I can return to work.

We do already get housing benefit.

bestpud

Do you live in an expensive area?

I ask because the thresholds for HB are relatively low and yet you are only getting the family element of ctc.

Is that because the tax credits includes your pre maternity leave income whereas the HB is based on your current income? Hae you informed them you are on maternity pay and your income has therefore dropped?

I don't know if you can claim extra while on maternity leave but I can't see why not tbh.

Hopefully someone else will know for sure.

Or maybe try ringing the helpline and asking them on there?

squashy

SMP is currently 9 months so you will get at least something in the interim. I am pretty sure your tax credits will go up too although not enough to cover what you would be earning if you'd gone back. Usually the first £100 of any maternity pay is diregarded when calculating tax credits and possibly other benefits.