Benefits for single and pregnant women

Missp_2

I am expecting a baby in August 2013 and will be doing it on my own. I"m trying to work out my budget but don't know yet where I'll be living - that kind of depends on how much income I will be on. I'm trying to work out everything I will be entitled to but struggling because of the way my maternity pay will work out from the end of July. Is there a simple way of working it out?

Horseunderwater

Maternity pay is paid for 6 weeks at 90% of your averaged out gross wage (calculated in the preceding 2 months prior to) - it then continues on for another 33 weeks at £136.78. That rule came in during April 2012. But if you averaged weekly earnings are less than SMP, then you will only be entitled to your normal pay per week for those remaining 33 weeks. Also you need to have been paid at least £109 to qualify for it. If on the OH you did not earn that amount per week then you could get that same amount for the whole 39 weeks via the DWP and this is called Maternity allowance and you apply via job centre plus.
Once baby has arrived you would qualify for child benefit at £20.30 per week and Child tax credit if you earnings are below £26K per year approx. How much you get depends on how much you earned during this year initially as that is how it is worked out. However, for the following year you would be able to deduct £100/week for the whole 39 weeks that you got mat pay/allowance £3.9k off any earnings or other income received for tax credits purposes. Not sure if you would be able to claim income support or not as I think that tends to be paid if you are not employed, which of course you are. So your income could be £136.78 + £20.30 + whatever tax credits may be due.