Maternity Allowance and what?

djdido2

Hi there

Had to use my mobile today for endless calls to find out where I stand income wise and three hours and a huge bill later I am still none the wiser so hoping someone/anyone can help please!!

I am 32 weeks pregnant and single (made redundant from full time job at end of July 2011) and have two dependents under the age of 18. I applied for and was awarded Maternity Allowance as of 28 August 2011. My entitlement to Working Tax Credits has ended but I will still be able to claim Child Tax Credits.

I have been sent a bill for Council Tax with the single person discount but I have a mortgage and all the bills I usually have but without a wage coming in. I am not entitled to Income Support and still have to get my daughter and son to and from school and pay for dinners etc and also in a few weeks time will have nappies/milk to buy etc.

Spoke to Benefits enquiry line today and have been passed from pillar to post. If I could go to work I would and therefore would not need any help but I am heavily pregnant with a bad preg related illness and now have all the stress of how I am going to manage on a third of what I used to earn when working.

Any help appreciated as no one seems to know:eek:

missmontana

Check with your midwife about receiving healthy start vouchers

http://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/

also you may be entitled to Free School Dinners, ask at school for the number, it'll be a dept. at the local council.

Join all the baby clubs possible (Tesco/Boots etc) they send lots of vouchers money off coupons which all help.

I'm sure others will be along with more solutions, Good Luck!

karenx

You will qualify for income support after your maternity allowance has ended if your still a single parent. Theres also child support from the father

LL30

Have you adjusted your income for TC purposes for this year? Obviously they're going on last years if not, and you will probably be earning less? You don't count MA as annual income for tax credits purposes, so that may help - if you go on an estimate, don't underestimate or you'll end up owing. I was in a pickle when I was pregnant, signed off from 22 weeks, so had to claim income support for a few weeks until mat pay kicked in - but ended up having her at 32 weeks anyway. I rang Working Families (or is it Working with Families?) and they were great, they really helped me in working out what I was entitled to. What a shame about your WTCs! I'm not sure I know of anything else that would be of help to you, sorry! Don't suppose your children's father is contributing? (Sorry, hate asking that, I get it all the time!) Good luck x

djdido2

The Maternity Allowance has only just kicked in as of 14 September and it is nothing anywhere near what I was earning full time. It has been awarded till May next year but I am hoping to get back to work asap after baby comes as I cannot survive like this. If CSA are anything to go by I am still chasing payment for my other kids after 8 years of no success. They are unable to pursue him as he is Self Employed and evading paying any Tax. They have to find the Father before you can get any payments and he also has no fixed abode.

djdido2

I spoke to Tax Credits today and they have adjusted my circumstances already so they have cancelled the Working Tax element as obviously I no longer work and am still getting CTC, however this is my dilemma. I am not eligible for Income Support as I already receive Maternity Allowance . It turns out that even though I had informed them of my redundancy at the end of July they were still paying WTC. They have now cancelled this and this therefore means I will get less. Going from bad to worse.

NASA_2

You can try ESA due to your pregnancy complications.

ESA(C) overlaps with MA so you will only get the higher paying of the two. If ESA(IR) is payable at a higher rate than MA then you will get your MA topped up with ESA(IR) and this will bring with it the passported benefits.

djdido2

NASA wrote: »

You can try ESA due to your pregnancy complications.

ESA(C) overlaps with MA so you will only get the higher paying of the two. If ESA(IR) is payable at a higher rate than MA then you will get your MA topped up with ESA(IR) and this will bring with it the passported benefits.

Thanks NASA

I applied for ESA as soon as I left my job and was refused as they said I had enough income to live on (presumably my last working wage, which was mostly made up of sick pay as I was off for 2 weeks out of the 4).
Shall I reapply now my circumstances have changed???

Tigsteroonie

Might you be entitled to Council Tax Benefit?

Also, your CB & CTC will go up after the birth of your baby. (Or so I believe, I'm not sure when it comes to third children!)

NASA_2

djdido2 wrote: »

Thanks NASA

I applied for ESA as soon as I left my job and was refused as they said I had enough income to live on (presumably my last working wage, which was mostly made up of sick pay as I was off for 2 weeks out of the 4).
Shall I reapply now my circumstances have changed???

Yes, you should apply again if your income is lower, that's not to say that you will receive it but its worth a try. Other than that I dont see what other benefits you can get.

paulwellerfan

dont you have qny savings?
any ISA'S you can cash in?
did you prepare for this baby?