Unemployed, Pregnant am i entitled to anything?

stacey182

Hi,

I would really appreciate any advice anyone has to offer....

Basically i'm 27 weeks pregnant and have been on contributions based job seekers allowance (due to end september - around the time the baby is due) since april.
Before claiming JSA i was a carer for my grandmother, so i was claiming Carers Allowance, but she sadly passed away in march, thats why i started to claim for JSA.
As i am pregnant, i was given the impression by the job centre that i would be able to claim Maternity Allowance from 11 weeks before the baby is due (two weeks time), but today was told that i would not qualify, as i have not actually worked in the test period of 66 weeks.

I was told to enquire with ESA but i'm unable to qualify as the pregnancy is not making me ill, so i'm therefore able to work...they said to claim for income support - but i'm not sure that i'd actually qualify for this either as i live with a partner who works 36hrs a week and earns around 22k, we have a shared ownership house so have a mortgage and pay rent, and i already have an 1 child.

Do i carry on claiming JSA til it runs out in september...what happens when that finishes? I'm in a complete pickle...I know my partner is not on a low wage compared to some, but we are seriously going to struggle.

Thanks for taking the time to read this!

Indie_Kid

You were probably told you could claim ESA because for a certain amount of weeks before and after the birth, you're classed as "unfit for work".

You can't claim cinome support as your partner earns too much and you're not a single parent.

DanielleNic87

What normally happens when you apply for MA and are not entitled is the MA office contact your local office to find out if you are entitled to ESA (in the alternative), which is basically ESA contributions based (which looks like you would qualify for as you are receiving JSA (c) which is paid 6 weeks before your baby is due and 2 weeks after.

BERFFRO

My partner is in the same boat as you! She was going to claim Income support but as i work 16 hours they would take off £ for £ her income support against my wage! which isn't much anyway!! She is carrying on claiming Jobseekers as it the same amount and she can claim it until her contribution runs out. Only thing is though you have to go and sign on every fortnight.

divastrop

Are you getting working tax credit?
It is probably worth claiming ESA. Although things are very different now I know that when I was expecting my first child I wasn't able to get MA but I got contribution based incapacity.

bubba1585

You can't claim income support as your partner works over 24hrs a week so you're not eligable, the only thing I can think of is ESA if you're unfit for work due to pregnancy or working tax credit.