claiming,having baby whats out available for us?

bwatt00

Hi folks was wondering if you could give me advise,info etc.

My wife is due a baby in 3 weeks time,she had been a full time student before then for a couple of years working part time also,she gave up her part time job in the early days of knowing she was pregnant,due to the nature of products she handled etc.

Before i met my wife i used to get single benifit from council tax was about 25% off,we also used to get this as she was a student,now that its finished they have now stopped the discount.
They tell us that cause she no longer is a student we dont get this anymore,but in my mind nothing has changed she is not working,they say i can claim as a benifit,but i think she needed to be claiming unemployment?But as she is pregnant and is due to have baby really soon and needs to look after the baby how is this possible?
So claiming unemployment is out of the question?

I am the only earner so is there stuff we are able to claim for as she is not earning,or when the baby arrives that we should get that most couples get once baby is here?You always here about things out there you can get etc but nobody never tells you waht you can and cant get.

It be my first baby so i have no idea whats out there to help us out,does this all go by what i earn? or is my wife able to claim on stuff regardless of what i earn?

would be good to get some advise on this as we maybe missing out on something we should be claiming for we did not know we could get.

cte1111

If you tell us what you earn, then we would have a better chance of telling you what you might be entitled to.

In general, you will be entitled to child benefit, probably child tax credit, possibly housing benefit and council tax benefit. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/index.htm
If your wife isn't looking for employment, then she won't be able to claim Jobseeker's Allowance so your claims will be based on your income.

You might be able to claim a Sure Start Maternity grant:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/moneytaxandbenefits/benefitstaxcreditsandothersupport/expectingorbringingupchildren/dg_10018854

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

Heres a link to the direct gov site for you with all the info you need

Hope that helps

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/moneytaxandbenefits/benefitstaxcreditsandothersupport/expectingorbringingupchildren/index.htm

I dont believe your partner will qualify for SMP so here is the link for Maternity Allowence also

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/DG_10018869

The Midwife should have given your wife a leaflet about the benefits that your wife can claim - if she hasnt given this then i would ask for it

carebear13

she cant claim smp as she is no longer working, but may be able to claim maternity allowance if she meets the criteria. direct.gov is a really good website for all things pregnancy/maternity/money/benefit related.

bwatt00

cte1111 wrote: »

If you tell us what you earn, then we would have a better chance of telling you what you might be entitled to.

In general, you will be entitled to child benefit, probably child tax credit, possibly housing benefit and council tax benefit. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/index.htm
If your wife isn't looking for employment, then she won't be able to claim Jobseeker's Allowance so your claims will be based on your income.

You might be able to claim a Sure Start Maternity grant:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/moneytaxandbenefits/benefitstaxcreditsandothersupport/expectingorbringingupchildren/dg_10018854

Im thinking approx £41,000 last year

somethingcorporate

I'd expect that to be too high for most means tested benefits but you'd get the child benefit as this (for the while) remains to be not means tested.

no-oneknowsme

bwatt00 wrote: »

Im thinking approx £45,000 per year

Wow! £45k per year is quite a good figure.

With earnings so high I dont think there will be much in the way of benefits available to you with one child.

There will of course be child benefit , this is £20.30 per week for one child .

(not having a go here) I wish I could earn £45k per year lol.

Good luck and all the best with your new Baby , enjoy him/her as they grow up so fast!

annie1975_2

When you earn £26,000 with one child ,tax credits stops.

bwatt00

no-oneknowsme wrote: »

Wow! £45k per year is quite a good figure.

With earnings so high I dont think there will be much in the way of benefits available to you with one child.

There will of course be child benefit , this is £20.30 per week for one child .

(not having a go here) I wish I could earn £45k per year lol.

Good luck and all the best with your new Baby , enjoy him/her as they grow up so fast!

So looks like child benifit is the only thing we can get claim for then?its crazy my wife does not get some help not just from me,as she has been a full time student for past two years,im the only earner,as she is due a baby and will have to look after baby she cant claim jobseekers,so how does she pay into here national insurance if she is not claiming,i bet even if she was allowed to claim my earnings would not allow it anyway.

annie1975_2

I wish my OH earned £45,000...More like £15,000 a year, and works a 42 hour week..
You are allowed 19 years towards your state pension for bringing up children.

kingfisherblue

bwatt00 wrote: »

So looks like child benifit is the only thing we can get claim for then?its crazy my wife does not get some help not just from me,as she has been a full time student for past two years,im the only earner,as she is due a baby and will have to look after baby she cant claim jobseekers,so how does she pay into here national insurance if she is not claiming,i bet even if she was allowed to claim my earnings would not allow it anyway.

If the child benefit is in your wife's name, her NI should be credited.