New Mum Income????

LegalBlonde

I have not been on here for a loooooooooong time.

I have been trying to research statutory maternity pay etc online, and just trying to work out how much exactly a new mum would have as income per week?

There are alot of benefit checkers etc online but it is very annoying - e.g. how do you know how much is a low income for housing benefit??? without actually quitting your job and applying LOL

So basically I am looking at it is if I don't go back to work and my partner earns about £130 net a week on average.

So maternity pay etc, all the one off things like child trust fund,

Child tax credit, child benefit, council tax help?? housing benefit??

Does anyone know how much all these things are roughly a week, and what all can be applied for??

Thanks for your help - and no I am not pregnant, it is a long story, but basically I am trying to work out for someone the highest possible money you can get in a week as a new parent

And please, after a night of googling I don't have the energy for any debates on living off benefits.......like I say it's a long story, can't go into now and anyone that recognises my username will know I am pretty sensible and hard working.

Thanks so much x

Jakesmummy

Are you working at the moment, if you are you get smp from your employer for 39weeks, if you have worked 33 weeks out of 66 at the point of being 29wks pregnant you should be entitled to maternity allowance, but depends on your average earnings in this period.

Housing benefit, different councils have different rates but if you go on your local councils website there should be a calculator you can have a play with. but with your partner earning only £130 a week I think you will be entitled to some but all depends on number of bedrooms ect.

Tax credits, the best calculator to use is the one on the hmrc website, the entitled to website isnt too accurate in my experience.

Indie_Kid

LegalBlonde wrote: »

council tax help?? housing benefit??

It depends on your area - I would get a lot less HB if I was living in Plymouth than what I would living in London.

LegalBlonde

thanks so much yeah i can imagine the council tax and housing is different in different areas but i can't really seem to find a calculator anywhere. i am currently working, as long as you quoted, but am only counting the lowest/statutory income as i think there might be something about if you don't go back to work after, you have to pay any private benefit back?

Thanks for the really quick replies!

Indie_Kid

Isn't that only for smp? Which I believe you get from your employer.

csh_2

LegalBlonde wrote: »

thanks so much yeah i can imagine the council tax and housing is different in different areas but i can't really seem to find a calculator anywhere. i am currently working, as long as you quoted, but am only counting the lowest/statutory income as i think there might be something about if you don't go back to work after, you have to pay any private benefit back?

Thanks for the really quick replies!

Anything over and above SMP may have to be paid back if you don't return or you may be required to return to work for 3 mths or whatever but each company would have its own rules.

I am on SMP only and it was up until the beginning of this month £123 a week although I do believe it has gone up slightly. I've not been paid this month yet!

Child benefit of £20 per wk for the eldest child, £190 Health in Preg grant. These two aren't means tested.

£500 Sure Start Maternity Grant. Payable to those on low incomes defined here


Btw, I'm certain that 'low income' refers to anything under £15k ish.

£130 per wk you would be looking at a fair whack of WTC and CTC I'd say. Website here

LegalBlonde

Thanks so much for all your replies. I was confused about whether the £123 a week was included in the whole pay it back thing if you didn't return - but that didn't seem to make much sense!

Am I right in thinking you can get Income Support, if you are not on JSA i.e. they'd not be looking for a job as wanting to stay home with baby, so couldn't get job seekers? Alot of the benefits I am reading up on seem to depend on getting Income Support so just wanted to make sure I was right in assuming it could be claimed!

Indie_Kid

Only if you don't have to sign on, (carer or lone parent) your partner's income is low enough and savings are between £0 & £16k. (reduced after £6k)

You can't get income support if you don't want to sign on.

LegalBlonde

so i can't get IS if I don't "sign on" - get Job Seekers Allowance?

So if you were on JSA and went to a meeting to discuss not finding a job etc, the fact that you are a new mum and want to stay at home is not a good enough reason???

I read on some mums and babies forum that they go to meetings and aren't put under "pressure" to return to work until their baby is 7? Not sure where or what benefit they are on though.

So are most SATM's not on IS or JSA then??

Indie_Kid

Those mums are more than likely single parents.

Being a new mum isn't good enough reason not to work. You are treated incapable of work for a certain amount of weeks before and after the birth. However, would have to claim employment support allowance - this replaced incapacity benefit.

SAHM (or dads) won't be on any benefits.

LegalBlonde

i don't know what my T in SATM was for LOL stay in tears mum at this rate LOL

Thanks for your help. It is looking like it will be *just* about manageable on maternity leave for 1 year and then back to the grind