Had a baby, benefits and going back to work. Very confused!!!

helena83

Hi

We have just had a baby and I am starting to think about whether to go back to work, how many hours to do and when to go back. I'm so confused with the whole benefits situation and since we are struggling financially anyway even though I am still on full pay at the moment I need to make sure I make the right decision.

My full pay ends in 9 weeks time and I will be on SMP from then. My original plan was to take another couple of months off and then go back 3 days a week (21 hours) but now I'm not sure thats going to be affordable. Childcare for those 3 days will cost around £400 per month minimum and my wages will be about £400 less than they are now so effectively we will be £800 less than we have now which there is no way we can afford as we only just about break even as it is.

I've tried to look at the info online but it has bamboozled me!!

So basically I need to know...

1. What benefits I can apply for?
2. I own another house which I rent out but lose about £150 per month on. Does that affect benefits?
3. How do childcare vouchers I can get through work affect benefits?
4. Is there somewhere I can go and get help with all this?
5. What on earth do we do next if we aren't entitled to anything?!!

Thanks for any help xx

malibusami86

i dont want to make things seem more upsetting than they are for you but thought i should share this-

i phones tax credits last week as im pregnant working part time and have a 4 year old at school. i wanted to quit my job rather than taking maternity leave with them as i have no intentions of returning after birth. i called tax credits for some advice and an estimation of what our current tax credits will adjust to in april and after the baby is born. i was informed that basically all tax credits are going to be reduced due to tax cuts. so even if your circumstances dont change before april you are likely to see some kind of decrease to your current payments......the annoying thing is they cant even give you a rough idea because all of their systems are changing in april so they cant calculate anything beyond march now =/

if you are already struggling it may be worth taking this into consideration whilst thinking about future finances. your local tax office should be able to discuss this with you if you book and appointment with them or call

good luck

CherryRea

Are you a single parent? If not how much does your OH earn?
Obviously it will make a difference to your tax credit entitlement
Have you been on the Entitled To website to get a rough estimate?

helena83

OH currently earns about 22k but has been offered another job on more like 30k but would have a lot more travelling so also trying to work out whether its worth him taking that too! Its so confusing. Will have a look at that website.

[Deleted User]

helena83 wrote: »

Hi

1. What benefits I can apply for?
2. I own another house which I rent out but lose about £150 per month on. Does that affect benefits?
3. How do childcare vouchers I can get through work affect benefits?
4. Is there somewhere I can go and get help with all this?
5. What on earth do we do next if we aren't entitled to anything?!!

Thanks for any help xx

1) If your joint income is less than 40k you should be entitled to some help with childcare through Tax credits. You won' get working Tax as your joint income is too high.
2) Owning a property would exclude you from Housing Benefit though reading your post I assume you are not renting your home anyway.
3) see here to decide if these will work for you. http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/childcare-costs
4) Entitled to is a useful website to play about with figures or Citizens advice Bureau.
5) Could you not consider selling the 2nd property as it appears to be a drain on your fianances?

You haven't stated what your salary is or would be on 21 hours but your partner is earning a good wage so I think any help you do get will be small and not to be relied upon. Maybe you need to look at your outgoings, I have an income of about £1500 per Month but I live quite comfortably. O.K my car and telly are old, my fridge and dishwasher are 2nd hand, I don't have any designer clothes. But I go out once a week, we have internet, sky and live in a nice rented home, in a nice area and the rent I pay is actually £25 per month less than what I would be entitled to and we have a holiday abroad each Year, so it is possible to have a nice life on a low income