Benefits after maternity

bailey1183

Hi there, I am new to the forum and was wondering if anyone can help.
I am currently pregnant and will be going on maternity shortly. I am trying to investigate the possibility of affording to be a stay at home mum. I have no other children, and have worked full time for the last year, previously I was a student and worked for several years full time prior to this and have never claimed benefits before.
I have a partner who earns £16k a year, and works unsociable hours. My current job is also unsociable hours and so child care would be impossible to find as sometimes we both work til late at night, and weekends. I know that I would be entitled to stat mat pay for 9 months from my current job (only government standard so no extras I would have to pay back to my company if I didnt return). But my query is does anyone know what myself and my partner could claim if I didnt return after the nine months as I know that I would effectively be quitting my job. We could not afford our bills on just my partners wage and child benefits alone. We live in a private rented house. I know that if we were to try and claim child tax credit and working tax credit my earnings from this year would be accounted a so would we get nothing? And I also know that for our area the weekly housing benefit payment per week is £110 but would I be entitled to it straight after maternity? Otherwise I just dont see how we will cope if I cant get another job that has more suitable hours

Sorry for the long waffling post, and thanks in advance for any replies.

princessdon

you need to put your details into a calulator.

For Tax Credits Minus £100 pw for maternity pay (this is discounted for Tax Credits), also discount any penions. Put the amount from April to April for this year.

From April 2013 you can "readjust" and this should go up.

Re housing benefit - model the scenario in the calulator on your OH wages only, you won't get the full amount due to income but you *may* get something.