Please can anyone advise stay at home mum re: benefits?

Lizbetty

I wonder if anyone can help? I had my first child in June 05 and my second is due in January 07. First time around I claimed maternity allowance and the Sure Start grant, but I gave up work after the birth of my first child and so as far as I can tell I didn't think I was entitled to claim any sort of maternity benefit, except to reapply for the Sure Start grant as we are on £17250 (my husband's income) plus tax credits.

I keep reading about incapacity benefit though - I've read that I may be able to claim this just before and just after the birth, but it's not mentioned everywhere, which makes me wonder why. I'm thinking it might affect the tax credits which might affect the chances of us getting the Sure Start grant, and as we're struggling to make ends meet while I'm bringing up the little uns, I'm trying to make sure we get this benefit thing right..but it's so bloomin confusing!!! Does anyone know what the max income is you're allowed to get to still be entitled to the grant? I know it depends upon the amount of tax credits you get, but it seems an unknown quantity til the baby's here in January.

I've tried the entitledto.com website which was quite useful, but I'm still unsure about the incap thing. All advice would be very very much welcomed as my head hurts quite a bit from trying to suss it out and our CAB is shut (low on volunteers). Thank you very much in advance, Lucy

regularsaver1

my sister was not able to get any more - the tax credits went up though once my nephew was born(child and working) via her partners income

and housing benefit was re-assessed as he only earns £11k to support 4 of them

bonnie_2

you can only get the grant, if your child tax credits are more than the family element.

krisskross

I don't think you will be able to claim incapacity benefit as you are not unable to work because of illness. And there are NI condtions that have to be met.

Ted_Hutchinson

If you cannot get Statutory Maternity Pay or Maternity Allowance

If you are not entitled to Statutory Maternity Pay or Maternity Allowance, - perhaps because you have not been working recently - you may be able to claim other benefits instead.


If you are pregnant or you have had recently had a baby, you may be able to claim Incapacity Benefit. This will depend on the stage of your pregnancy and whether there would be a risk to your health or your baby's health if you worked. Incapacity Benefit is based on your national insurance contributions. If you cannot claim Incapacity Benefit you may be able to claim Income Support, if you are on a low income. You can claim Income Support once you are 29 weeks’ pregnant, or earlier if you are incapable of work because of your pregnancy. Before this, if you are capable of work, you could claim Jobseeker’s Allowance.


The rules about the benefits you can claim in pregnancy and early maternity are complicated. If you are pregnant or have just had a baby and you do not think you can claim Statutory Maternity Pay or Maternity Allowance, you should consult an experienced adviser, for example, at a Citizens Advice Bureau. To search for details of your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by email, click on nearest CAB.

Lizbetty

Thanks for your replies, everyone. The IB thing seems a bit of a grey area - I'm guessing that noone would be fit to return to work immediately after having a baby, I seem to remember reading somewhere that you can claim for so many weeks (8, I think) after pregnancy but I can't remember where I read it, having read so much about everything pregnancy related, as you do...!!

I have made a good heap of NI contributions having worked continously since I was 16 til I was 30, so I'm guessing I would qualify, but it's whether it's worth claiming and if it would affect tax credits and the grant. What a headache.

I think a trip to the CAB is definitely in order! I used to be a volunteer so I might even get a cup of tea while they try and explain it to my poor thrashed heed!

Ta again for your replies,
Lucy