what can I claim?

newcook

Hi everyone!

First time on this board so please be gentle with me!!!

I have recently found out Im pregnant and so am trying to work out my finances etc for when baby arrives but I have no idea what I am entitled to claim! I have never claimed any benefits before so the ‘entitled to’ website is a bit daunting and keeps giving me different figures each time!

I plan to take 6 months maternity leave so already know that for the first 6 weeks I will receive 90% of my pay then it drops down to SMP which is £128ish a week. I also know I will be able to claim child benefit but apart from that I don’t have a clue what else I will be entitled to claim!

Many thanks!

sleepless_saver

Congratulations!

The answer to your question depends on your income and circumstances and your partner's, if you have one.

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/benefits_e/benefits_children_and_young_people_ew/benefits_for_families_and_children.htm

pinkypatrolstokie

newcook wrote: »

Hi everyone!

First time on this board so please be gentle with me!!!

I have recently found out Im pregnant and so am trying to work out my finances etc for when baby arrives but I have no idea what I am entitled to claim! I have never claimed any benefits before so the ‘entitled to’ website is a bit daunting and keeps giving me different figures each time!

I plan to take 6 months maternity leave so already know that for the first 6 weeks I will receive 90% of my pay then it drops down to SMP which is £128ish a week. I also know I will be able to claim child benefit but apart from that I don’t have a clue what else I will be entitled to claim!

Many thanks!

Don't forget that you still accrue holiday leave as though you were still working. So if you are taking 6 months off maternity then you will have 6 months worth of your annual leave to use. Don't let them fob you off about it like my employers did with me. It still riles me that I let them get away with it.:mad:

Pedent

newcook wrote: »

I have recently found out Im pregnant and so am trying to work out my finances etc for when baby arrives...

Congratulations!

newcook wrote: »

I plan to take 6 months maternity leave so already know that for the first 6 weeks I will receive 90% of my pay then it drops down to SMP which is £128ish a week. I also know I will be able to claim child benefit but apart from that I don’t have a clue what else I will be entitled to claim!

What you're entitled to will depend on your income and circumstances. How many hours do you work? What's your salary, minus any pension contributions? Do you make any gift-aided donations to charities? If you have a partner, the same questions for them.

newcook

Pedent wrote: »

Congratulations!



What you're entitled to will depend on your income and circumstances. How many hours do you work? What's your salary, minus any pension contributions? Do you make any gift-aided donations to charities? If you have a partner, the same questions for them.

At the moment I earn £18000 and work 40 hours – Im hoping that when I return from maternity leave that I will be able to go part-time. no pension contributions etc. OH earns roughly about the same with no contributions

I currently rent a house with a friend (we had already decided that we weren’t going to re-new the tenancy next year) so will either take the tenancy on with OH or will find somewhere cheaper.

Am I able to claim IS when the SMP drops?

missmucksmum

you wouldnt be able to claim income support as your partner works, you might be entitled to some working tax credit?

rogerblack

newcook wrote: »

At the moment I earn £18000 and work 40 hours – Im hoping that when I return from maternity leave that I will be able to go part-time. no pension contributions etc. OH earns roughly about the same with no contributions

As well as benefit/... - pop over to the 'debt free' side of the board, and go through all of the outgoing minimisation steps.
Going through every expense, and seeing if you can swap it for cheaper, or drop it.

merlin68

With that income you probably wont get anything.

newcook

merlin68 wrote: »

With that income you probably wont get anything.

I know at the minute I wouldnt but for 6 months my wage will be a fraction of that amount

Sparklebabey

What made you think you could claim IS?

skintandscared_2

newcook wrote: »

I know at the minute I wouldnt but for 6 months my wage will be a fraction of that amount

Yes, but your partner's will still be the same. If you put some aside during your pregnancy, you will be able to manage during the time you are on maternity leave.