MSE Pregnancy Club XII

Krystaltips

Yeah, at the time I got £112 MA and £5 IS because IS has a minimum amount that they think you can live off and at the time MA was just below that amount... But like I said, it was 5 years ago so things have changed... CTC has taken over from IS for the child and MA is now £126 a week so it might be different now...

Triggles

Carla - it certainly sounds like you qualify for MA. Here's a link. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/DG_10018869

I would go ahead and fill out the form and turn it in. I'll bet they approve it.

efrieze

BeenieCat wrote: »

I know this has probably been done, many times - but how far on were you all when you told people?

I'm 14+4 and have only told one friend so far.

I told people after 12 week scan was fine.

skintchick

BeenieCat wrote: »

I know this has probably been done, many times - but how far on were you all when you told people?

I'm 14+4 and have only told one friend so far.

We told family and close friends at 6 weeks, and everyone else at 12 weeks. I wanted to know that should we have another miscarriage, I'd have support from people. (we told people at 6 weeks with the first baby too).

Glamazon

BeenieCat wrote: »

I know this has probably been done, many times - but how far on were you all when you told people?

I'm 14+4 and have only told one friend so far.

I was 13+3 when we told family/friends and 13+6 when I told work.

You won't be able to hide it for too much longer

Is there any reason why you've not told anyone yet? I think most people wait until the 12 week scan is over and then tell people.

Triggles

Carla - also a point - the qualifying period goes back 66 weeks, so if for some of that 66 wks prior to the week of your due date, you were working full time, you can use THOSE weeks to boost the amount you get for MA.

You might get Maternity Allowance if:

• you're employed, but not eligible for Statutory Maternity Pay
• you're registered self-employed and paying Class 2 National Insurance Contributions (NICs), or hold a Small Earnings Exception certificate
• you have very recently been employed or self-employed

You may be eligible if:

• you've been employed and/or self-employed for at least 26 weeks in your 'test period' (66 weeks up to and including the week before the week your baby is due). Part weeks count as full weeks; and
• you earned £30 a week averaged over any 13 weeks in your test period

Krystaltips

My husband couldn't wait to tell people so our parents knew at about 6 weeks... We got married when I was 7 weeks so a few more people found out then... And I was hideously morning sick so a lot of people guessed early on too...

Fidget

I'm going on ML at 29wks as soon as I'm allowed to. I only work 4 hours a day 3-7 sometimes later but my job usually involves some counter work and carrying sometimes large parcels which I'm obv. barred from at the moment so for a few hours of each shift it's so boring and it drags. It feels like I'm waiting all day to go in work then when I come I'm shattered and I'm not seeing anything much of my little girl who gets passed from pillar to post from my mums then to her step-dad then to me just in time for her to go to bed.

My job involves being mithered at and shouted over by about 30 different people telling me to hurry-up and do their papers as they want to get home. All it takes is for me to feel a bit below par and it can really get to you.

People at work keep saying "why are you going so early it's stupid as you will have less time with the baby afterwards?" but at the moment my little girl needs time with her mum before her little brother arrives and demands attention! She is in the process of being referred by the school with special needs and they want her to be tested for ASD so she can get funding for extra help. I think the arrival of the baby will most likely affect her more than it perhaps would have done without these problems.

I will cross the bridge of leaving little one to go back to work when I come to it, it feels like I'm doing the right thing.

BeenieCat

No Glam there's no reason for it, well i suppose there is, i don't know how to bring it up with my family, i will just have to randomly come out with it.

With DS my then-bf told my sisters bf who told my sis and mother so i was spared of doing it :rotfl:.
Another reason i guess is OH has to tell his ex wife first, i don't want her to hear it 2nd hand, she hates me .

I'm quite proud i've managed to keep it a secret so far, i'm usually crap at secrets!
I don't really want the time to drag either, and for people to get bored of asking about it

aless02

I'm at 13+4 today and have told the following:
- my family but not OH's (timing thing...mine are in the USA but we are driving up to see OH's on Sunday for something else so will tell them then)
- OH's work (he's impatient)
- our little church group (sheer coincidence...the focus last week was all about family & children, so I felt not to say anything would be silly!!)

I haven't told work yet because I honestly haven't had to chance to pull my manager aside to have a word & I feel obliged to tell him before the rest of the team. I want to, I just need to work up the nerves!

The rest of our friends will find out after Sunday - b/c OH's mom & siblings are on Facebook so we don't the news accidentally spilling out there before they're told!!