First time mum worried about lack of benefits

2moonheads

Hello all, can you help, please?

I'm 39, expecting my first baby in 8 weeks and due to move into a privately rented house tomorrow morning. The trouble is, today I've discovered from the benefits system that the Income Support I was expecting to come through has been rejected because I'm being paid Maternity Allowance benefit. So, I called the Housing Benefits office to see what entitlement I'd get with only Maternity Allowance coming in. As things stand, my incomings including all benefits will be £124.88 per week and my rent alone costs £132.69 per week.

These are my previous circumstances: -

1. self employed up until July 2010;
2. business slowed so supported myself financially up until Dec 2010 when I sought Jobseekers Allowance;
3. claimed JSA from 16 Dec 2010 to 13 Feb 2011;
4. was told to transfer from JSA to IS 11 weeks prior to birth of baby and to complete Maternity Grant and Maternity Allowance forms, so I did both;
5. have qualified for Maternity Allowance only
6. not entitled to Maternity Grant due to my not being on Income Support
7. entitled to just £35.74 per week Housing Benefit
8. so, my incomings total £160.62 per week and my rent alone is £132.69 per week.

I have called Jobcentre Plus regarding this and they are now looking into it and whether I'm able to withdraw the Maternity Allowance benefit in order to apply for Income Support and therefore be legible for full Housing Benefit.

I've worked my entire life, paid over £1k a month in tax, ex-military too (SSAFA are assisting me with furnishings for the new house) and expecting my first baby in just a few short weeks. I've been 'on top' of this for months; trying to pre-empt the financial situation and be responsible. But as things stand, my circumstances mean my outgoings will be more than I have coming in. And that's not even taking into account all the associated bills, food etc. Sadly, my partner and I split many months ago so I have no support from him, furniture for the home, money or anything else than the positivity I feel and the hopes I have for actually having a home for my baby. For the past 2 months I've been staying with family and friends.

Jobcentre Plus are telling me it's highly unlikely that I'll be able to withdraw my Maternity Allowance and change to benefits that I feel are much more appropriate for my circumstances. I wouldn't have applied for MA had I known it would be so severely detrimental to our futures. What am I supposed to do, please? I take it a trip to the CAB is in order?

Oh, and with regard to my renting privately, our council housing system here would allow me a bedsit only and they are few and far between.

I'm distraught, at a complete loss and have no idea what else I can do so would really, really appreciate any advice or help you can provide, please.

Many thanks in advance.

Mommy and baby Moonhead

dseventy

Can't help you on the Income Support vs Maternity bit, but the father needs to contribute, goto the CSA if he won't pay.

D70

dmg24

What is your applicable LHA rate?

2moonheads

On that case too. Thank you.

2moonheads

dmg24 wrote: »

What is your applicable LHA rate?

Sorry, what's LHA please?

pandaspot

You will be entitled to the 2 bed rate if lha (local housing allowance) Soon as the baby arrives. You will currently be assessed on a 1 bedroom rate. Which could be why your hb is so low

2moonheads

It's the benefits information and change I'm concerned about moreso than the housing. I'm much more clued up on the housing front thanks. This benefits lark is a minefield.

dmg24

2moonheads wrote: »

It's the benefits information and change I'm concerned about moreso than the housing. I'm much more clued up on the housing front thanks. This benefits lark is a minefield.

If you don't know about LHA, I would check your housing knowledge.

AFAIAA you cannot choose to claim IS if you are entitled to MA. Even if you were entitled to IS, MA is considerably more so you would not be better off. Remember that entitlement to full LHA does not mean that your full rent will be covered.

bazzaboo

Have you taken child benefit and tax credits into account once baby is here?

tod123

you didnt mention all the cash dad will be paying?

2moonheads

dmg24 wrote: »

If you don't know about LHA, I would check your housing knowledge.

Nice! All I need right now is pedantry Abbreviations, particularly without context, can cause confusion you know.

I know I'm not allowed to 'choose' which benefits (if any) I'm entitled to but as I'm new to benefits I'm asking for help to see if there's anything that I CAN do, CAN check out, CAN seek to point me in the right direction. I've worked it out and being on MA means every single pence of it would have to go towards to my rent... and then some. The difference between MA and IS is financially immense and it appears that I receive MA solely because I was self employed up until July last year.

As things stand, I will have £27.93 a week to live on.