Pregnant, what can i claim?

laurenjs88

emmalou wrote: »

I got made redundant back in October and have been working cash in hand since (stupid i know!) this means that i wont be able to get SMP or MA... right?

So I can get income support from 29 weeks (how much is this?) and then when the babies born i'll get child tax credits (approx amount?) and child benefit (£20 a week right?) any the i heard something about IB- now ESA for 8 weeks around the birth, is that on top of the income support?!

I'll be a single parent in rented accomodation, i understand that HB and CTB will pretty much cover this tho i may need to pay a little bit...

I'm just wondering approx how much i will get from 29 weeks and then from when the babies born?


thanks in advance!

Hi Emma,

Right, you are entitled too from 29 weeks Income Support of £64.30 per week, once the baby is born you will get income support plus Child Benefit of £20.00 per week & Child Tax Credits (approx) £63.91

Totalling £148.21 per week.

On top of this, your entire council tax bill will be paid, obviously you wont be given this money, & you will recieve your full Local Housing Allowance you can check this on your local council website.. (also if your rent is below the money they allow for your size property you can keep the extra money upto £15 per week )

mine whilst of work was £121.00 LHA & £28.25 CT

You can also get £20 per week child support from the father per week without it affecting your benefits, Alot of single parents do this and then ask the NRP to being nappies, milk etc.... on access as it helps reduce the household grocery bill to! 3

You can also (whilst pregnant & up untill the child is 4) claim Healthy Start vouchers which is a £3.10 voucher per week towards, fresh milk, fresh fruit & veg & formula milk this goes up to £6.20 untill the child is 1 then back to £3.10 untill they are 4.

Then on top of all of that! You will also get if you apply for it, a £500 sure start maternity grant after week 25 to buy things for your baby & a £190 healthy pregnancy grant after week 29 (your midwife will go through the forms with you)

Also when your baby is born they will recieve a £500 voucher (in 2 £250 vouchers) to go into a savings bond for them untill they are 18)

Also on top of all of that, remember you can work and earn £20 a week (approx 4 hours on minimum wage) that wont affect your benefits either.


So if you totalled that all up the maximum you can bring in every week is after your baby is born for the first year: £343.66 per week tax free. (that was based on my calculation of my LHA & CT)

Does make me wonder why i went back to work!

Emma, we all do very stupid things out of desperation.... Dont worry too much about it ok... :A

Zara33

It's shocking looking at the figures, as to how generous the system really is.

laurenjs88

It has jsut struck me that I am actually worse off now than I was staying at home! My income looks higher because of childcare! Although i wasnt getting Maintenece or working for the extra £20 so it was £40 less...

Considering by the end of 2011 (i think) PWC will be allowed to keep £40 a week CS before it affects their benefits it doesnt surprise me so many stay at home!

Zara33

ZiggyStardust wrote: »

Finally, someone who doesn't jump down people's throats and talks some sense

:rotfl:;) I'm having a good day, doesn't happen often

Zara33

laurenjs88 wrote: »

It has jsut struck me that I am actually worse off now than I was staying at home! My income looks higher because of childcare! Although i wasnt getting Maintenece or working for the extra £20 so it was £40 less...

Considering by the end of 2011 (i think) PWC will be allowed to keep £40 a week CS before it affects their benefits it doesnt surprise me so many stay at home!

2010

In April 2010 a full benefit disregard will be introduced.
2011

It is planned that new applications to a new 'gross income' child maintenance scheme will begin. Existing clients on the CSA current schemes will be able to change to the new scheme, a process that is anticipated to continue for three years.

http://www.csa.gov.uk/en/about/faq/changes-to-child-support.asp

laurenjs88

Zara33 wrote: »

2010

In April 2010 a full benefit disregard will be introduced.
2011

It is planned that new applications to a new 'gross income' child maintenance scheme will begin. Existing clients on the CSA current schemes will be able to change to the new scheme, a process that is anticipated to continue for three years.

http://www.csa.gov.uk/en/about/faq/changes-to-child-support.asp

Bloody hell! well then i best kick my other half and go back on income support, send him back to his mums we'd both be about £500 a month better off!

System is ridiculas!

Zara33

All the money in the world doesn't compensate for not having a father in your child's life.

laurenjs88

I was joking, My OH is the most fantastic father to my daughter & will be to our child too I cant wait to give him his own flesh & blood

Vicky123

Darned good incentive to get shot of a crap husband though:rolleyes:
On a serious note though do these benefits apply to teenage mums?
It does seem like an option and it shouldn't, there must be some way of changing the system around children, maybe one years notice that there will be no CB, or acceptance onto housing lists, maybe stricter chasing of absent fathers including seizing their benefits to pay for their children?
It's really hard because no one wants to see children suffer but at the same time we shouldn't be actively encouraging benefit culture.
Maybe no cash benefits but vouchers instead for some claims, trouble is it all sounds so draconian and harsh when there are very many people in trouble through circumstance and not intent.

laurenjs88

Same for teenage mums i think too...