Baby on the way, desperately need help!

BBBNH

hi everyone,

i have a baby on the way and i am really unsure as to what i am entitled to, it's got me really worried.

i'm classed as self employed, in the line of work i am in it's difficult to say what i earn annually, all i know is that in the last tax year i didn't earn enough to pay N.I or tax (although i still paid class 2 N.I volunterily)

as i don't earn much self employed, i also do some temping work in an office, it's only part time (1-2 days per week) and i will be leaving in may (my child is due in september)

my partner is self employed and earns roughly just under £15,000 per year. we don't claim working tax credits or anything like that, are we entitled and could we only claim it as a couple, not separately?

am i right in thinking that i will receive maternity allowance? how long can you receive it for? one webiste says up to 26 weeks, another says 39 weeks?

child tax credits - am i entitled to these? how much would i receive? i'm guessing not much because my partner earns £15,000 per annum?

also, in the future if i couldn't work (unfortunately things aren't looking good), would i be able to claim job seekers allowance or is that not possible because i live with my partner?

thanks in advance for any help given. i'm really worried.

[Deleted User]

CTC will be an absolute minimum of £10 a week for the first year

bestpud

I don't know about maternity allowance but you can claim the £190 Health in Pregnancy grant and you are very likely going to be entitled to the Surestart Maternity grant of £500 once the baby is born.

You will also get child benefit of £20 a week, and, on an income of £15k, you will receive wtc and ctc.

Ctc is doubled until the baby is a year old.

You would also, I am sure, be entitled to exemption from NHS charges on £15k, although you will be anyway during your pregnancy and for 12 months after.

If you go back to work after the baby is born, you may get help with childcare fees.

LizzieS_2

bestpud wrote: »

Ctc is doubled until the baby is a year old.

Not quite. Ignoring wtc totally and ctc disability elements, ctc is made up of 3 elements:
1) family premium of around £10pw
2) Baby addition of around £10pw
3) child/baby element of around £40pw each

The above figures are gross, these are then adjusted if total household income exceeds £6490pa. The actual net award for everything must be at least £10pw providing household income is under £58K.

For the first year, there is in extra £10pw in the gross award but that doesn't double the net amount actually payable - at best it gives an extra £10pw and at worst, nothing.

bestpud

LizzieS wrote: »

Not quite. Ignoring wtc totally and ctc disability elements, ctc is made up of 3 elements:
1) family premium of around £10pw
2) Baby addition of around £10pw
3) child/baby element of around £40pw each

The above figures are gross, these are then adjusted if total household income exceeds £6490pa. The actual net award for everything must be at least £10pw providing household income is under £58K.

For the first year, there is in extra £10pw in the gross award but that doesn't double the net amount actually payable - at best it gives an extra £10pw and at worst, nothing.

Oops, sorry, that is what I meant, but you're right, I didn't make it clear.

Thanks for clarifying.

Becles

If you have paid enough Class 2 NI, you will be entitled to Maternity Allowance.

Do you have a small earnings exemption certificate? If you do, you'll get around £27 a week.

If you don't, your MA will be about £120 a week.

You're actual earnings from self employment are not counted. You either get the £27 or £120 depending on if you have the certificate or not.

It was for 26 weeks, but then it went up to 39 weeks. You need to look on the benefits website to check how long it is paid for now and the actual amounts you can claim.

BBBNH

LizzieS wrote: »

Not quite. Ignoring wtc totally and ctc disability elements, ctc is made up of 3 elements:
1) family premium of around £10pw
2) Baby addition of around £10pw
3) child/baby element of around £40pw each

The above figures are gross, these are then adjusted if total household income exceeds £6490pa. The actual net award for everything must be at least £10pw providing household income is under £58K.

For the first year, there is in extra £10pw in the gross award but that doesn't double the net amount actually payable - at best it gives an extra £10pw and at worst, nothing.

so, am i right in thinking that i should get around £50/£60 per week child tax credit?

Becles - i don't hold a small earnings exemption certificate (even though i would be entitled to one) i decided to pay my class 2 N.I volunterily and i am up to date with it all.

Becles

BBBNH wrote: »

Becles - i don't hold a small earnings exemption certificate (even though i would be entitled to one) i decided to pay my class 2 N.I volunterily and i am up to date with it all.

In that case you will get the higher amount with is about £120 a week for 39 weeks.

You need to either get a claim form from the job centre or download one from the job centre website and follow the instructions from there. From memory I think I had to get my midwife to sign it to confirm I was pregnant.

bestpud

BBBNH wrote: »

so, am i right in thinking that i should get around £50/£60 per week child tax credit?

Becles - i don't hold a small earnings exemption certificate (even though i would be entitled to one) i decided to pay my class 2 N.I volunterily and i am up to date with it all.

If you do not return to work once the baby is born, and your sole income is the £15k your OH earns, you will recieve approximately £80 a week in tax credits. That is roughly £60 ctc and £20 wtc. That it based on your OH working over 30 hours a week.

Plus you will recieve £20 a week child benefit.

This will reduce if you go back to work, obviously.

So you won't be able to claim JSA without sufficient NI contributions, as your OH's income would rule out income based JSA.

But you will receive around £100 a week in benefits (as above) and will almost certainly be entitled to free NHS care, including your OH.

I hope that is clearer now; sorry for confusing things last night.

Pssst

Phone an ambulance and boil some water..?

Damzel_In_Distress

Pssst wrote: »

Phone an ambulance and boil some water..?

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: