end of maternity if i give up work can i claim

nobbyhigo2

Hi realy need some help i am due to finish my maternity leave in 3 weeks i have asked my employer if i can go back part time they say no ,also at the same time my husband has just been made redundant but been offered a job on minimum wage 6,50 as i earn 7.50 it would be better for me to stay at work but i just cant bring myself to spend that much time away from my little one .
what i need to know is will i be able to claim anything as we really cant afford to live on 1 income on minimum wage or will i be penalised for giving up work willingly

any help much appreciated as we are really starting to panic.

go_cat

Would it not make sense for your husband to care for the baby and you go back to work full time thus saving on child care and you may be entitled to CTC

carebear13

isnt one minimum wage better than you both being on jsa- you will both be expected to look for work so sooner or later you wil have to leave the lo.
my advice would be for you to go back, your hubby to take the job, but keep looking for another one and then hopefully you will be able to leave to be a sahm. Or you could go back and also look for pt job.

pmlindyloo

nobbyhigo2 wrote: »

Hi realy need some help i am due to finish my maternity leave in 3 weeks i have asked my employer if i can go back part time they say no ,also at the same time my husband has just been made redundant but been offered a job on minimum wage 6,50 as i earn 7.50 it would be better for me to stay at work but i just cant bring myself to spend that much time away from my little one .
what i need to know is will i be able to claim anything as we really cant afford to live on 1 income on minimum wage or will i be penalised for giving up work willingly

any help much appreciated as we are really starting to panic.

We really need to know some more details before we can offer further help.

How many children?
Renting/mortgaged house?

What benefits are you claiming at the moment? Tax Credits?

If your OH took the job on minimum wage then you would be entitled to apply for Tax credits - both working tax credit and child tax credits. Also you could apply for HB and Council Tax Benefit.

You will get Child Benefit of course.

You need to inform Tax credits of your change of circumstances now.

You can model your new circumstances on the benefit calculator on www.turn2us.org.uk.

As you would not be available for work you would not be entitled to Job Seekers Allowance: or Income Support as your husband would be working.

The benefits you could be eligible for would be based on the income coming into the household plus any savings (did your husband get any redundancy pay?) and capital.

So, if your husband takes this job and depending on your savings you need to apply for HB and CTB, plus you need to inform Tax Credits of your change in circumstances.

McKneff

Have you checked that you don't have to pay any maternity pay back to your company if you leave.

marleyboy

Being on the lower paid job, it made sense for me to agree to give up work and care for my Son whilst OH went back to work. The cost of childcare alone far exceeded our combined income. You should also be entitled to claim CTC.

As soon as your child is old enough to go to nursery, you or OH could then consider part time or shift work.

just_trying

carebear13 wrote: »

isnt one minimum wage better than you both being on jsa- you will both be expected to look for work so sooner or later you wil have to leave the lo.
my advice would be for you to go back, your hubby to take the job, but keep looking for another one and then hopefully you will be able to leave to be a sahm. Or you could go back and also look for pt job.

When did the rule about them both having to look for work come in?. I always thought it was the one named on the claim that had to look for work, the partner would be called in every 6 months or so but there was never any pressure put on them. OP put the dtails of your partner working minimum wage into entitled to and see what you would be entitled to, it's pretty accurate. Best of luck to you.

princessdon

If you have enough NI contributions (ie you have worked reguarly and earnt NI) you should get contribution based JSA.

If your OH new wages are low you can also get Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit etc (depends on wages)

You will also get CTC and CB

Caz3121

princessdon wrote: »

If you have enough NI contributions (ie you have worked reguarly and earnt NI) you should get contribution based JSA.

assuming that the OP is a legitimate Job Seeker - and there may be a sanction imposed for voluntarily leaving a job

chris1973

What you are talking about is a lifestyle change, rather than one brought about by bad luck, illness, accident, disability etc. This is fine, provided you can make the figures and budget balance, or adjust your lifestyle accordingly.

You mention not being able to work part time only due to your current employers' decision. Well what about working part time for another employer?, perhaps you could take a part time shift during the early mornings or evenings, when your OH would be around to look after the baby, then you will be at home during the day. Thus avoiding the expense of childcare, and you would get your wish to continue to work in a part time capacity

nobbyhigo2

thanks for all the replies my husband really wants me to stay with our little one he knows i really don't want to be separated from her, having worked for 25 years solid i have payed tax and nat ins throughout we have a very small mortgage and no loans so thats a good start , and yes i would still be looking for a part time job elsewhere but obviously this is not going to be easy to achieve in the present climate ,oh finally we dont really have any savings husbands last employer went under owing two months wages so that just about wiped us out.