First time mother due in December

Bamama

Hi, I've tried using

moneysavingexpert.com/family/benefits-check

to check what I am entitled to, but as I haven't actually had the baby yet I'm not sure what figures to add in.

My maternity leave won't start until the very end of December and I am planning to take the whole 39 weeks off.
My boyfriend and myself had just found out we'd been accepted to rent a house when I found out I was pregnant (he's a joint tenant, not sure if he would be classed as being my partner or not... the checker has a "single" and "couple" option so I presume that as his earnings will be taken into account I need to put couple but, do I put him down as a joint tenant too?).

HMRC has it's own calculator which uses last years earnings. Does this mean if I earned too much last year then I won't be entitled to benefits even though I'll be earning nearly £100 less a week?

My boyfriend works full time which is a 40-50 hour week, after taking breaks and things out.

Also I will only be going back to work part time, probably only 16 hours a week. Will I be able to claim any benefits then?

Can't get my head around this whole thing! Too many different date bands and earning bands and ARGH!!!

Any help would be appreciated oh and I'm from Wales. I know that might mean I'm entitled to different things compared to other people around the country.

xylophone

http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/getadvice.htm
Try CAB Benefits Adviser?

princessdon

It is unlikely you will get any income related benefits (based on the hours that you both work) - You *may* get some HB but it won't be a lot - and without knowing wages we can't advise.

Re Child Tax Credits. They use an annual figure.

It is normally based on last years income - but if you expect that to change by £2500 PA you can ask them to relcalculate - I assume you may come under this.

So you need to look at your wage from April 12 - April 13. You are entitled to remove £100 pw from this figure for Maternity Leave. Eg if you earned £10,000 and had 12 week's maternity pay (up to End of March) - then remove £1200 - so your earnings for the year will be £8,800. This is because Maternity has the discount.

Then add your OH wages for the year.

If it is over £26K - you will get nothing until April 2013 from Tax Credits.

YOu will get £20 (ish) pw in Child Benefit.


From April 2013. You will then have to assess your income for the year (April 2013 - 2014). Ie your maternity pay, estimated income at 16 hours and your OH Full Time hours.

If this is under £26K - then you will get Tax Credits, if over £26K you won't.

Bamama

Thank you so much for the replies. I have tried my best to work it out but it has just left me more confused!

If I tell you my particulars perhaps you could offer more advise, as I'm pretty sure I should be entitled to something!

Currently I am working 40hrs/week at £6.30 an hour. My maternity leave is planned to kick in on 27th December dispite my due date being 22nd. This is because my boss has agreed the I can use what I have left of my holidays (12 days) leading up to Christmas, if I go earlier than this date then my holidays will be added on to the end of my maternity leave. I will be returning to work the last week of September 2013. When I return I'll only be doing part time hours... 16hrs/week to begin with.

My boyfriend is on roughly £350/week before tax + NI and works 40-50hrs.

Our rent is £400pcm. Council tax is £950 for the year.

I'm doubtful that we will qualify for Child Tax Benefits but surely I should get Working Tax Benefit when I return to work? I hadn't even thought about Housing Benefit!

princessdon

Ok - Until April your entitlement will be zero (unless you have a large pension I can use to lower the income). That is because you will have earnt £10K and your parner £18K (so over the £26k).

From April - assuming you return to work at end of your maternity leave, the following is assumed. 26 weeks work at (6.30 x 16) for your wages.

In this instance you will receive just over £40 pw in credits plus your CB so (£60 pw).

This is assuming no disabilities and no childcare (both affect the amount).

so as a rough guide - assuming your wages etc remain the same you are looking at £62 ish per week including Child Benefit.

mildred1978

Bamama wrote: »

Thank you so much for the replies. I have tried my best to work it out but it has just left me more confused!

If I tell you my particulars perhaps you could offer more advise, as I'm pretty sure I should be entitled to something!

Currently I am working 40hrs/week at £6.30 an hour. My maternity leave is planned to kick in on 27th December dispite my due date being 22nd. This is because my boss has agreed the I can use what I have left of my holidays (12 days) leading up to Christmas, if I go earlier than this date then my holidays will be added on to the end of my maternity leave. I will be returning to work the last week of September 2013. When I return I'll only be doing part time hours... 16hrs/week to begin with.

My boyfriend is on roughly £350/week before tax + NI and works 40-50hrs.

Our rent is £400pcm. Council tax is £950 for the year.

I'm doubtful that we will qualify for Child Tax Benefits but surely I should get Working Tax Benefit when I return to work? I hadn't even thought about Housing Benefit!

So after rent and council tax, tax and NI you have £1700 a month. Where has that been going? Surely you have a nice little savings pot with at least some of that?

mildred1978

From the January after your child turns 3 you'll get 10 hours nursery funding per week, courtesy of the Welsh Government.

princessdon

mildred1978 wrote: »

From the January after your child turns 3 you'll get 10 hours nursery funding per week, courtesy of the Welsh Government.

They only get 10 hours in Wales? It is 15 here.

mildred1978

princessdon wrote: »

They only get 10 hours in Wales? It is 15 here.

Yes, and only for 2 terms.

merlin68

Working tax credit has an income cut of of £17100, i very much doubt you'll get hb.

Bamama

Thanks princessdon! Just to get it clear I basically won't get anything other than CB until I return to work (the £40 odd being working tax credit)?

mildred - I'm only 24. My boyfriend and myself moved in together in May. Every spare bit of money has had to go on furniture/appliances. My OH has no savings and doesn't seem to be able to save money. I'm trying to help him manage his bank account better but with trying to sort out our bills, working, keeping the house in order, planning for the baby... it's very difficult.
I've got around £3000 in my current account (no savings) but some of that needs to go towards a new car as I currently only have a KA which isn't going to be very practical with a baby.

I'm the born saver and it's worrying me that I'm going to have less income and not be able to save up the emergency money like I am now. I'm well aware that some of that £3000 is gonna need to be spent to keep us living as we are. But it seems like coping so little money is going to be a struggle.