Help after SMP stops

Mimmsie

I am a single Mum of two and on SMP at the moment which will end in June. My baby has a few issues and am thinking of postponing my return to work from Jul to Oct. I am in receipt of CTC, CHB, HB and CTA. I have tried to use the calculators to see what I will get once the SMP stops but I cannot understand it at all. Would anybody know if I will be able to claim income support if I take the additional 3 months unpaid maternity leave. I have estimated what I will earn for the year to be £13500 if I go back to work in Oct. Just worried whether I will be able to meet my financial commitments.

allen35

Once your SMP ends you should be entitled to Income Support based on the age of your child and not working, when returning to work be aware the first £100 pw of SMP is disregarded as is Income Support from your income for tax credit purposes.

Mimmsie

allen35 wrote: »

Once your SMP ends you should be entitled to Income Support based on the age of your child and not working, when returning to work be aware the first £100 pw of SMP is disregarded as is Income Support from your income for tax credit purposes.

Thanks for your reply. So does that mean I will be classed as unemployed at that time and how will it impact on Tax credits?

nannytone_2

you wouldnt be classed as unemployed as you are one of the few froups that is exempt from working ( lone parent with a child uncer 5)if, apart from child rax credits, HB and CTS, your maternity pay is your only income, it is likely that you already receive the highest rate of ctc already.

income support is £71.70 a weeh

pmlindyloo

nannytone wrote: »

you wouldnt be classed as unemployed as you are one of the few froups that is exempt from working ( lone parent with a child uncer 5)if, apart from child rax credits, HB and CTS, your maternity pay is your only income, it is likely that you already receive the highest rate of ctc already.

income support is £71.70 a weeh

Whilst it's true that you wouldn't be classed as unemployed this isn't strictly because of your status as a single mum with a child below school age.

Whilst you are on additional maternity leave you are still employed. You would not become unemployed until you had given in your notice.

Because of this you will still be entitled to working and child tax credits.

You should notify tax credits of your change in circumstances.

Mimmsie

Thank you nannytone and phlindyloo. I do not receive the highest rate of tax credits as I only became legible for them after my second child was born. I am waiting for my CTC renewal and I will speak to them about my circumstances.