Pregnant full time student with boyfriend out of work - any advice?

superspam

Hi

I'm a 29 yr old, pregnant, full time mature student living with my partner of the same age. We have our own home with a mortgage which we are currently only paying the interest on as my partner is out of work. I work 15 hrs a week at the moment on top of my course and my partner is setting up his own business as he has been unable to find a job. We get a 25% reduction on council tax as I am a full time student but as you can imagine - money is tight! The baby was a bit of a surprise and I'm only just finishing the first year of a three year degree. I earn approx £400 a month and my partners income is small and sporadic at the moment. I have absolutely no idea about benefits so don't know what we may be entitled to and how much it would help us financially - right now we're wondering if we need to sell the house, clear our debts and start again but don't really want to move back in with his parents when we're about to start a family of our own! Any advice would be very welcome!:D

Rebe

Hey,

Congratulations
You should contact your local CAB, maybe arrange an appointment with them and explain your situation as you will be entitled to benefits, and they'll tell you which ones you're eligible for etc.

Hope this helps

Rebe x

Oldernotwiser

Don't forget that all your Student Loans/Grant/Bursary will be taken into account for assessing means tested benefits.

roxalana

If you are getting support from the student loans company you should find out about adult dependent grant and childcare grant etc.

ALIBOBSY

I would think from your post you are out for claiming income support or jsa (income based) because of your income and student grants/loans.
If your OH recently finished work and had enough NI paid in the last 2 tax years he might qualify for JSA (conts based) but they will take into account £1 for £1 his earnings.
Your best bet (especially with a child) is tax credits, you should get child tax credit and some working tax credit.
Contact the council about the council tax, is the 25% off for being a student more than you would get as a couple claiming council tax benefit for low income?
You will probably qualify for some sort of maternity benefits. There is a new payment from after April where you get a lump sum during later pregnancy (think it is from 28 weeks) aimed at funding healthy eating for pregnant mums, every bit helps.
If you can get in with CAB they are good at giving you an overall review.

Try to enjoy your pregnancy (I am 11 weeks with number 4-yes number 4 lol). Babies can be as cheap or expensive as you want. Plenty of stuff available on freecycle or second hand especially prams and cots. I have been given loads of baby clothes over the years, especially for those first few months they are in and out of clothes so quickly I have had some lovely stuff (even designer stuff lol) which was like new. Tesco, Asda etc all do cheap baby clothes if you want new.
I must admit we did get a new cot (in laws paid for as a gift) but this has done 3 kids (will do one more). Probably best to get a new mattress though.
Watch out for offers on prams if you go new, last time my mum and dad offered us some money, we got an end of line graco travel system with pram,rain cover, cosy toes,changing bag,car seat and carseat base for the car all in for £155. This was because the new colour and range was coming out and they wanted rid of the old (from toys r us).

Good luck

ali x

alwaysonthego_2

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Don't forget that all your Student Loans/Grant/Bursary will be taken into account for assessing means tested benefits.

Apart from tax credits who only take the Adult dependancy grant into consideration.