Maternity/Pregnancy Help

jennyb16

Hi,
I hope you can help me, my husband any myself want to start trying to start a family

But... fate has landed us a blow, my husband is now only earning 20k and last week i got made redundant,

Whilst i desperately don't want our situation to hinder us trying for a a baby as i'm positive in a few weeks i'll be able to be earning some kind of money again,

If i was to stop working if i got pregnant my husbands current salary would not cover our mortgage and monthly repayments.

i just wondered if anyone knew what help (If any) was out there. I find myself getting upset that we can't start trying for our much wanted child due to the financial situation we are in. (we're both in our 30's)
Has this affected anyone else and if so what have you done?

bdt1

You might be better posting this on the benefits board for a more appropriate response.

You would be entitled to child benefit, child tax credits and possibly working tax credits, but as said benefit board better to advise you

Kimitatsu

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dreambirdie

maybe it would be a better idea to wait until you are in a better position and know where you stand with employment. i think you have to be in employment a certain number of weeks before you qualify for maternity pay etc. on your husbands salary you would be entitled to £20.30 p.wk child benefit and i think its £20 p.wk child tax credit for a child under one.

you have stated in your post that your husbands salary wouldnt cover mortgage etc, so how could you afford a child if you have no money coming in? that sounds incredibly rude of me and i really dont want to come across that way. its just that im in a similar situation myself.my partner got made redundant last year, and he is currently working 2 part time jobs while searching for something full time and permanent. i work full time + i am currently pregnant myself and trying to work out if me and my partner can afford to move out together(this was an unplanned pregnancy so we are both living at home) and it has been a real kick up the backside trying to work out where we stand financially. i have not been able to enjoy one mintue of the pregnancy, as i am so stressed about money its horrible. if i could turn back time i would avoid having a child in these circumstances to be honest. but what is done is done.

i guess what im trying to say is if you doubt you can afford it at the minute dont do it. then just start trying again when u are back working.

hope everything works out for you and you find employment ASAP.

x

karenx

As above you would only get the £20 child benefit and £20 tax credits for the first year a week then it goes down to £10. Wont be entitled to working tax credits.
If you got a job then you might get maternity pay depends on what their rules are for how long someone has been working there for. There would be no assistance in the form of benefits for paying the mortgage. I assume you have debts as you mention monthly repayments, surly it would be better waiting till all your debts are cleared before thinking about a baby

Emmamumof2

At least you are thinking about whether you can actually afford to have kids before you do!

I agree with the other posters that you would be better waiting a year or two until debts repaid and you are both in work when you would get your maternity leave and be comfortable you can manage with what is coming in and out before the baby comes along!