TurntoUs website .... how to use it?

Cookiee

Hi All

Well after nearly being in debt for over 8 years! :eek: OH and I will be debt free in about 6 months :j:j:j:j:j:j:j

We have always said that once we were debt free, we would dearly love to start a family . We have worked out that if we save what we have paid into our debts for 8 months whilst I am pregnant, we would have enough to cover my wages for 9 months :j

Our plan was for me to then return to work, as I earn a lot more than OH, and he stays at home to look after little one. I know this is not normally common for a man to stay at home with little one but it is the best solution and the most cost effective one.

I want to start making plans and see what we would be entitled to etc and my head is spinning (and I normally deal with money everyday).

I have read that you get child benefit (£20 a week?) and working tax credit but everytime I pretend that I have "given birth" into the above website, it says we are not entitled to anything, including child benefit.

I am not looking forward to scrounging of the state, just seeing what could help us for when we bring little one into the world. I want to plan as much as possible so we both can save and try and cover any possibilities ...

If anyone can point us in the right direction we would be grateful :A

Caz3121

what will your household income be
Child benefit will cut off at 40% tax rate
Child tax credits for one child ceases at £26k

Cookiee

My wages at the moment is £19K but this will go up by £1k a year, so my the time I give birth (if all goes to plan) I will be on £21k year. OH works for an agency (after being off sick for nearly 2 years) and at present earns about £15K a year. He will stop work 1 month before I go back to work.

I really dont have a scobbie on what benefits etc are available and not really keen on using them as I have been brought up on the belief that you make the baby you raise the baby.

If you can help or give me some tips I would be grateful :-D

princessdon

Caz3121 wrote: »

what will your household income be
Child benefit will cut off at 40% tax rate
Child tax credits for one child ceases at £26k

Cb is cut at £59,999 not the higher rate tapers from £50k when it is received in full.

Just wanted to point out in case someone earns say £45k and was worried it would stop not to nit pick

pmlindyloo

Are you using the right site - https://www.turn2us.org.uk

Click on Benefits on the top bar and then click on benefit calculator a little further down.

Sorry can't post a link.

Have just used it and seems to be fine.

marybelle01

Cookiee wrote: »

I want to start making plans and see what we would be entitled to etc and my head is spinning (and I normally deal with money everyday).

Get used to the feeling. Children have that effect too

Cookiee

princessdon wrote: »

Cb is cut at £59,999 not the higher rate tapers from £50k when it is received in full.

Just wanted to point out in case someone earns say £45k and was worried it would stop not to nit pick

I wish I was earning that money

Our household income would drop to £21k when OH stops work. I cant workout how to figure this into the calculator as well as my wages when receiving SMP. (By the way what is that and do you get taxed and NI on it?)

princessdon

Cookiee wrote: »

My wages at the moment is £19K but this will go up by £1k a year, so my the time I give birth (if all goes to plan) I will be on £21k year. OH works for an agency (after being off sick for nearly 2 years) and at present earns about £15K a year. He will stop work 1 month before I go back to work.

I really dont have a scobbie on what benefits etc are available and not really keen on using them as I have been brought up on the belief that you make the baby you raise the baby.

If you can help or give me some tips I would be grateful :-D

Are you using your wages as they would be or now? Ctc use last financial year (so on current wages it's too high) also maternity pay is discounted by £100 pw as are pensions.

Cookiee

I am doing them at £21k. This would be the maximum my wages will ever be at my job and I am ok with this.

How do you work out what your monthly take home is from SMP?

princessdon

Cookiee wrote: »

I wish I was earning that money

Our household income would drop to £21k when OH stops work. I cant workout how to figure this into the calculator as well as my wages when receiving SMP. (By the way what is that and do you get taxed and NI on it?)

Work out his wages to point he gives up work since April

Add your wages from April - April

Minus 39 weeks at £100

That will give u an estimate for this year. It may rise in April when u have no wages for oh, but they use an annual wage from April to April not each month. Eg if u earnt £26k by dec - no wages in jan-mar you'd still not be entitled for those months as they deem over the year you earnt over the limit.

Cookiee

Well I have had a look and it seems we would not be entitled to working tax credit but will be entitled to the £20 a week in child benefit.

Thank you for your advice and we can now work out how much saving we will need to use.

Here's to a very quick 6 months :-D