Benefits Advice Needed

racirach

My husband and I have decided to split up and I need some benefits advice.

I have a little boy of nearly 2 and am 7 months pregnant. Prior to our split I wprked full time and had agreed with work I would take 9 months paid maternity leave, 3 months unpaid and 6 months career break.

I am now very worried as I have never claimed any kind of benefit in the past and am not sure what I will be entitled too. I am particularly worried about the 9 months unpaid period of leave.

Can anyone please advise what support I will entitled too during
a, the paid period of leave
b, the unpaid period of leave
c, what I would be entitled to if I went back to work
d, what and how much I could claim if I decided not to go back to work

I am in a muddle at the mo, as I'm not sure if I can or should retractg my career break and return to work after 9 months in order to support my children.

Any advice would be welcome.

Thank you

thorsoak

I cannot help you very much, I'm afraid - but do not forget - your children do have a father - and he has to contribute to their upbringning - and should be supporting his children.

Contact your employer and DWP tomorrow - they will be able to put you on the right track. You aren't alone in this - you may have decided to split, but your partner is still the father of your children and has to take on those responsibilities.

Marcheline

I am by no means an expert, so hopefully someone will be along to correct anything I've said that's not quite right, but here's my attempt at helping you!

a) You will be entitled to child benefit, child tax credit and possibly working tax credit (depending on your earnings). You may also be entitled to a surestart maternity grant (one off £500 payment). You should also be getting the health in pregnancy grant of £190 shortly.

b) I don't think that you would be entitled to any other benefit during the unpaid period of leave (other than what I have said above) as you would still be classed as employed. I think most people pay for this period out of savings, which may or may not be an option for you.

c) Again, depending on your earnings, when you go back to work, you should be entitled to all the ongoing payments I've outlined under a) above. You may also be entitled to local housing allowance and council tax benefit, but I do not know much about these. Read here for further info: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/On_a_low_income/DG_10018928 and http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/On_a_low_income/DG_10018923

d) if you don't go back to work, you might be sanctioned for a period of time before being able to claim Job seekers allowance (if you decide to look for a different job) Not sure whether you would be able to claim Income Support immediately though. Check here, as it's worth a look http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/moneytaxandbenefits/benefitstaxcreditsandothersupport/on_a_low_income/DG_10018708
If you went back to work, you may also get some help under the childcare element of working tax credits.

This website is usually helpful: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/index.htm

Hope you get things sorted.

Indie_Kid

if you decide not to go back to work, you're entitled to claim income support. I think this stops when your youngest reaches the age of 7.

karenx

Marcheline wrote: »

d) if you don't go back to work, you might be sanctioned for a period of time before being able to claim Job seekers allowance (if you decide to look for a different job) Not sure whether you would be able to claim Income Support immediately though. Check here, as it's worth a look http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/moneytaxandbenefits/benefitstaxcreditsandothersupport/on_a_low_income/DG_10018708
If you went back to work, you may also get some help under the childcare element of working tax credits.

This website is usually helpful: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/index.htm

Hope you get things sorted.

As a lone parent you dont have to apply for JSA, its income support straight away with no sanctions. And you dont have to go to job centre to sign on all the time etc, they dont pressure you into going to work untill you feel you can. While on income support you are only allowed to keep £20 per week of any maintenance from your ex. But when you are working you get to keep the full amount.

You need to be working 16 hours or more to get working tax credits and help with childcare costs.

While on an unpaid break etc you will only get your child tax credits and child benefit, so it really is worth either going back after your paid maternity leave or not going back at all.