Bit worried!

InhaleMood

Hi all,
I am having a bit of a scare at the moment in that I may be pregnant. I am not with the potential father, but I would keep it.
How can I find out where I would stand financially re benefits etc? I wouldn't be able to work for a certain amount of time. I am in a shared ownership property.
Any advice would be appreciated!

miduck

If you are in work, you would be entitled to SMP, and then when baby is born you would receive CTC, help with childcare, and child benefit (all dependent on income). Whilst you are on SMP you may be eligible for help with council tax, along with help with your mortgage and rent - again these depend on your income and savings.

McKneff

You would have to post a lot more details than that.

What hours do you work,
Do you live alone
Do you have other children
Is the father contactable, will he pay maintenance, if not, why not, you would ahve to get the CSA involved.
Etc, etc. etc.

InhaleMood

McKneff wrote: »

You would have to post a lot more details than that.

What hours do you work,
Do you live alone
Do you have other children
Is the father contactable, will he pay maintenance, if not, why not, you would ahve to get the CSA involved.
Etc, etc. etc.

I work 9 - 5.30pm
Live alone
No other children
Not relying on father

Mrs_Bones

Well before getting all worried I'd suggest you get a test tomorrow and check whether you are pregnant or not. You could be worrying for nothing.

McKneff

Saying 'a scare' presumably it is very early days.
Why are you worrying about something so major before you even know whether you are or not.

Whether you are or not, another scare on the horizon is a disease if you have had unprotected sex.

Find out for definite on the first, then come back.

Find out for definite on the second by going for some tests.

irishjohn

tanyasharma wrote: »

I work 9 - 5.30pm
Live alone
No other children
Not relying on father

And why should you rely on him, my recommendation is adoption - provide the child with a mum and a dad, enable you to carry on with your career unencumbered, and ensure that you don't become a burden on the state in its current dire financial straits. Its a no brainer - cause the country (us) cannot afford to keep on subsidising everything.

Alternatively, get the father involved, get your family involved, be a proper mum and stand on your own two feet.

Big_is_beautiful

irishjohn wrote: »

And why should you rely on him, my recommendation is adoption - provide the child with a mum and a dad, enable you to carry on with your career unencumbered, and ensure that you don't become a burden on the state in its current dire financial straits. Its a no brainer - cause the country (us) cannot afford to keep on subsidising everything.

Alternatively, get the father involved, get your family involved, be a proper mum and stand on your own two feet.

I really don't think it is appropriate to suggest adoption, you don't just throw a baby out like an old jumper going to the charity shop.
The OP has said she wants to keep the baby, if indeed there is one.
She may have no option but to include the father, as she may be asked his name in order to obtain relevent benefits.
Don't make any decisions until you know for sure, get a good pregnancy test kit and find out for sure. Then sit down and think about all the implications of any decisions you make.
Make contact with your CAB for advice on what you are entitled to, how you can return to work and working tax credits and childcare help.
The important thing is to remain positive, and don't exclude any family and friends who may be able to help.
Good luck in what ever decision you make.

Caz3121

Big_is_beautiful wrote: »

The OP has said she wants to keep the baby, if indeed there is one.
She may have no option but to include the father, as she may be asked his name in order to obtain relevent benefits.

Child maintenance no longer affects any means tested benefits, the only people that would be interested in who the father is would be the CSA

McKneff

bloolagoon wrote: »

For a midwife you don't know much about child related benefits, what the cab help with. What is your definition if a good pregnancy test?

Not one from the pound shop, that's for sure.:D

irishjohn

Big_is_beautiful wrote: »

I really don't think it is appropriate to suggest adoption, you don't just throw a baby out like an old jumper going to the charity shop.
The OP has said she wants to keep the baby, if indeed there is one.
She may have no option but to include the father, as she may be asked his name in order to obtain relevent benefits.
Don't make any decisions until you know for sure, get a good pregnancy test kit and find out for sure. Then sit down and think about all the implications of any decisions you make.
Make contact with your CAB for advice on what you are entitled to, how you can return to work and working tax credits and childcare help.
The important thing is to remain positive, and don't exclude any family and friends who may be able to help.
Good luck in what ever decision you make.

She didn't say she wants to keep the baby - she said she will keep it I interpreted such impersonal language to mean that she is not keen to abort and therefore adoption is a valid suggestion. She sees to have jumped too quickly to the "last resort" of the welfare state and pushed the idea of parental financial responsibilities for the mother and father away too easily. On this basis I felt it appropriate to ensure she had taken other solutions to her problem into account and therefore I see no harm in suggesting adoption.