Pregnant graduate and not allowed SMT or benefits?

J_pink

I'm looking for some advice for my friend who is pregnant with her second child and has just completed a Psychology degree.

She lives with her boyfriend, and her boyfriend has an income of approx £16K. Her boyfirned pays for the bills, the car but NOT the rent.

She, however pays for the rent, the groceries and monthly expenses including things for the baby. Now that she has graduated she has been told that becuase her bof is earning she isn't entitled to ANYTHING in her pregnancy. No SMT or anything. She has no income and her boyfriend has a seperate bank account and refuses to give her spending money.

I cannot believe that, whilst my friend is pregnant and looking for a job (which is difficult to find anyway as a graduate, let alone a pregnant one!) she isn't entitled to anything. Please help!

Does anybody have any advice?

alwaysonthego_2

I am afraid they are correct, his income is considered as their joint income. Once the baby is born they will be entitled to CTC, CB and WTC and the Sure Start Maternity Grant and she will get the HIP when she is [I think] 26 weeks pregnant.

If I was her i would seriously be considering whether he is mature enough to be in a relationship and helping bring up a child if he can not support her financially.

oldmotherreilly

Can I ask what you mean by 'spending' money?
If this is your friend's second child, they will already be in receipt of CTC, CB and WTC but will obviously receive an increased allowance once the second child is born.

karenx

If she was studying before she wouldnt have any credits etc to qualify for any maternity benefits. Apart from the HIP grant which has already been mentioned.
And no she doesnt have no income, she will have CB and tax credits already

iamana1ias

J_pink wrote: »

I cannot believe that, whilst my friend is pregnant and looking for a job (which is difficult to find anyway as a graduate, let alone a pregnant one!) she isn't entitled to anything. Please help!

Do we not pay enough for all these unplanned babies already?

alwaysonthego_2

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J_pink

The hilarious thing is - she would have loads of support if she was a single mum.
The boyfriend is a fantastic Father, and a good partner to her - they already have a 2 year old son together.

Spending money = groceries, bus fare, childrens clothing, essential things like petrol. How can she buy these things on no income! His wage could only cover the rent and bills.

It's fabulous how the government support mothers going back to education?!

Blackpool_Saver

She has no income and her boyfriend has a seperate bank account and refuses to give her spending money.

Does he now, mmmmmm

tigtag02

J_pink wrote: »

The hilarious thing is - she would have loads of support if she was a single mum.
The boyfriend is a fantastic Father, and a good partner to her - they already have a 2 year old son together.

Spending money = groceries, bus fare, childrens clothing, essential things like petrol. How can she buy these things on no income! His wage could only cover the rent and bills.

It's fabulous how the government support mothers going back to education?!

Its not up to the government to support her but her partner and father of the children - this is how (and rightly so) it works.

The will definitely qualify for TC's which will bump their income up (this btw is the govenment supporting them).

bunny999

J_pink wrote: »

The hilarious thing is - she would have loads of support if she was a single mum.
The boyfriend is a fantastic Father, and a good partner to her - they already have a 2 year old son together.

Spending money = groceries, bus fare, childrens clothing, essential things like petrol. How can she buy these things on no income! His wage could only cover the rent and bills.

It's fabulous how the government support mothers going back to education?!

A good father who won't / can't buy his child clothes or food ! The crazy thing here is that she had one child let alone two with this loser.

Blackpool_Saver

boy is he in for a rude awakening