Help please re benefits

suckers2008

Hello All

I will try and keep this short and sweet

Lost my job January - have PPI on my mortgage so strted to claim, also on jobseekers (income based)
Have to get my forms signed every month by jobseekers in order to claim insurance
Havent told insurance company I am pregnant
Just found out that I HAVE to claim maternity allowance and then I wont be able to claim jobseekers, my insurance doesnt cover normal pregnancy
Sooo how long do you go back on jobseekers allowance after the baby is born?? As we will only be living off maternity allowance and hubbys wage wheras at the moment we have double our income (I am putting all money aside after mortgage)

Krystaltips

You don't have to claim MA straight away, I held off claiming for 3 months during my first pregnancy so I would be elligible for a surestart grant...

DaisyFlower

Are you sure your JSA is income based, its usually contribution based and then only switches to income based if no other/very little income yet your husband is working? If contributions based it will make a difference.

You'll also need to check the rules of your insurance policy, if you are on maternity you are correct in that cover wont apply. However they may class you as a carer after the baby so technically not unemployed. Will there be many months left on the policy anyway after maternity - they are normally capped to 12 months.

choccybuttons

Hi

You might want to check if partner qualifies for working tax credits. You will also get tax credits after the baby is born. You can ask it to be estimated on your current income which is going to be lower. You will also prob qualify for sure start maternity allowance.

Oldernotwiser

I'd post this on the Benefits Board where people from JCP give advice.