please help..!

lindsey_123

hi im new to the forum and looking for some advice if anyone can help..?

Im 20 years old and i am currently 8 wks pregnant, i have been in education and university for 2 years. Therefore i havent been in work.

I have been searching what types of help and benefits i may be able to receive, but they all state i must have been in work for a certain amount of weeks. I am unable to find anything about the type of help avaliable to students who have been in full time education.

I intend to leave my studies this month, should i get a job? althought i still wouldnt be entitled to maternity allowance or SMA.

I have a partner who is 24 years old and in full time work, and is classed as living on his own. His wage wouldnt be enough to support us all..

Just wondering if anyone has be in this situation or can help??

I do intend to keep the baby.

baccyman

you could try seeing the citizens advice bureau they will be able to tell you what you are entitled to ,

zagfles

So are you not living with your "partner"? Will you be living with him when the baby is born? I put partner in quotes because if you aren't living with him and you're not married then you probably won't be classed as partners by HMRC and DWP which makes a huge difference to your entitlement.

Benefits you'll probably be entitled to are:

Child benefit
Child tax credit
Working tax credit (if you live with your partner, or you work)
Income support (if you don't live with him, and you don't work)
Housing benefit (possibly)
Council tax benefit (possibly)
Sure start maternity grant (possibly)

None of these are contributory benefits so you don't have to have worked at all to get them.

See the HMRC site for child benefit and tax credits, and the DWP site for the others.

Mollycat13

Is there any reason for you to give up your studies this month? Surely it would make sense to complete the current year. It seems very premature to be giving up University at this stage when you could finish the year before the baby arrives.

How have you been supporting yourself up to now? And would this support stop when your studies stop?

As far as I am aware, at this stage in pregnancy, you would have to sign on for JSA (income based) and be actively seeking employment. If you live with your partner, his income would be taken into account for this.

Just some things to take into consideration.

stresshead81_2

Lindsey,

Firstly, congratulations on your pregnancy. I am sure that it was unplanned but it will be the best thing that has happened to you. It may not feel like this right now but it will get better.

Secondly, do not give your studies up. You can sort out, with help from a guidance counsellor, to have some sort of maternity leave. I would suggest, dependent on your course nature and hours, that you find yourself a little job that pays something towards getting the cot etc.

Do get advice from CAB as soon as is possible, do not give up hope things can be sorted. I would recommend your boyfriend goes with you so as to gauge what help you can get as a couple.

Good luck and god bless xx