maternity benefits, also worked out your better off not working

louloubelle76

Im a bit confused about entitlements once my baby arrives, I will be going on maternity leave middle of January work will pay me 39 weeks but what happens to the 13 weeks after?

I think im entitled to child tax credits and working tax credits aswell.

But 1 thing that really gets my back is the sure start grant £500 which im not entitled to because i work even though im on low income and not getting working tax credits.

Can anyone explain to me what im entitled too and when to apply as i havent got a clue?

thanks in advance

lizzywig

I'm going on maternity leave in 4 weeks so do know quite a bit about it, but take my advice with a pinch of salt.

1) All companies have a different maternity policy but your HR should have been in touch with your to explain yours, if not then refer to your handbook. At the very least they should comply with government policy.

2) I am pretty sure that everyone gets child benefit (used to be family allowance I believe) up until the child is 16 or 18 if they are in full time education. This equates to £20.30 a week.

3) Some people are entitled to tax credits, if you have a low salary then highly likely that you will get this when on maternity leave and possibly when you go back to work.

4) There are different types of maternity pay (look on direct.gov). I believe that if you have been employed for at least 26 weeks at the 15th week before your EWC, and your average earnings exceed the lower earnings limit, you will be entitled to be paid statutory
maternity pay (SMP) at the following rates, provided you comply with the SMP notification requirements:
a) For the first six weeks of your maternity leave - 90% of your average weekly earnings (higher rate SMP).
b) For the following 33 weeks - SMP at the current statutory rate (lower rate SMP) or 90% of your average weekly earnings, if lower.
If you cannot get SMP your employer must fill in form SMP1 and give this to you. On the form, your employer must say why SMP has not been paid. If you have more than one employer, you must get form SMP1 from each employer.

5) Although you can take up to a year off work only 39 weeks is paid.


I agree that it's not ideal but it's better than some countries. As I am the higher income earner we have been saving £600 a month to allow us to live to almost the same level as before, which was always tight to start with. It does seem that perhaps JSA would be the better solution, this country doesn't seem to like to follow the practice of rewarding those who work though. I remember when my husband was made redundant and was told he could only have JSA for a couple of months as he hadn't paid enough NI even though he'd been working for 4 years. It didn't go down too well when he asked why that rule didn't apply to people who had never worked a day in their life :eek:

LL30

Gosh, I was better off on SMP than I was ever in my life! Are you not eligible to claim TCs now? i made them go on an estimate for the year whilst I was still working - don't forget to minus £100 for every week you're on SMP. You may be eligible for the mat grant if it's your first child and you claim enough child tax credit when baby is here - you have 3 months after baby is born to send it in, so download one and get it ready.

When I was SMP, I was getting WTC, HB, CTB and when lo arrived CTC and CB - it seemed a ridiculous amount of money to be entitled tbh, I was embarrassed, but at the same time, I've been pumping a good £500+ a month tax for 7 odd years now, so felt nice to have a little back (although I appreciate that's not exactly how it works!). 39 weeks does go quickly, but I do think it's generous and I was grateful to return to work (albeit part time and I've now just been made redundant!) and even then I've been entitled to all of the above except CTB. I'm now faced with going on income support and I honestly don't know how I am going to manage, it's not just the financial side, it's the fact that I love working and everything that comes with it. Hope you get sorted xx

louloubelle76

I cant get anything at the moment

karenx

Do you have any other children? Whats your income? Do you rent or have a mortgage? Depending on answers to these you might not be entited to anything untill baby is born

louloubelle76

dont have any children at the moment, still live at home but pay some rent, on low income.

I cant apply for anything until baby is here:)

WeBeBroke

Do you get full pay for 39 weeks????

That's brilliant - I only got 90% for 6wks and then smp of £100 pw after that for up to 26 weeks. The next 26 weeks I got nothing.

Mind you this was 4 years ago but your company are good to pay you for 39 weeks. I'm sure they don't have to.

mildred1978

WeBeBroke wrote: »

Do you get full pay for 39 weeks????

That's brilliant - I only got 90% for 6wks and then smp of £100 pw after that for up to 26 weeks. The next 26 weeks I got nothing.

Mind you this was 4 years ago but your company are good to pay you for 39 weeks. I'm sure they don't have to.

I expect she'll get SMP for 39 weeks, not full pay!