SSP and additional help

hannah9000

Hi all,

I'm 23 weeks pregnant and up to now have had an easy, enjoyable pregnancy.
I've got a rare lung disorder (Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia - similar to CF) and for this reason I only work 14-16 hours a week. The last week my lungs have gotten worse and I was sent home from work earlier due to my inhalers having no effect whatsoever and I couldn't stand up (I work in a pub so 6-7 hours standing is the norm)

I'm due to leave work on 20th Feb, using 4 weeks holiday and then Maternity Leave to start on 19th March. I really think it's in mine and my baby's best interest to leave now - so I'm wondering what the procedure would be? Would I sign off sick for the next 5 weeks? And if that's the case is there any additional help available to top up the poor amount of SSP that i'd receive?

I love my job, and thoroughly enjoy the pathetic amount of hours I do (i'd love to do more but my lungs won't have it) however I need to start thinking about my baby and if I'm not getting enough oxygen, he's not growing properly so I need to stay well.

So if I signed off sick, would I only be entitled to SSP?

LL30

I was signed off at 22 weeks pregnant and got SSP until 29 weeks when I started my maternity leave officially. Fortunately (or not!) my lo arrived at 32 weeks, so I had plenty of mat leave left after her birth. Do you qualify for tax credits? HB, CTB if renting? All depends on your age and marital status. Well done for thinking of baby first, it's all too easy to try to carry on, but ultimately, that little one needs cooking more

xylophone

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/parents/moneyandworkentitlements/workandfamilies/dg_10026556

hannah9000

Currently my partner and I don't qualify for Tax Credits as he earns £17k a year, as far as I'm aware, we will be entitled to Working Tax Credits once the baby is born.
We rent but it's from close family so not entitled to HB and our council tax is included in the rent!
I'm 26, we had to have IVF in order to get pregnant which makes it all the more precious. I just feel like such a loser not working

kingfisherblue

I don't know about the benefits side of things, but could you sit down between customers, or work different hours so that you have more, but shorter, shifts? Your employer may prefer this to having you off sick for the next few weeks, so both you and your employer could benefit if you both have some flexibility.

susannthe3cs

You can get housing benefit and rent from close family as long as the family don't live in the property x but with 17k income u probably wouldn't get any x good luck with the rest of your pregnancy x