I amm pregnant - i need advice on ESA

MoreRosey

I am married, pregnant with my second child, have been a homemaker for 3 years.
My husband works full time and we get child tax credit, housing benefit and child benefit.

Am I entitled to some extra benefit, now that I am pregnant?

I do want to start work after 6 months after my child is born and need some support, so can I apply for esa??

Will esa deduct my housing benefit?

Thank you.

I want to thank the following posties who have taken their time to give me relevant information/or wish that I do well. My goal is to move away from benefits and start working and this is where support is needed initially. Worrying to make ends meet whether on benefit or not, asking questions to gain knowledge, it is a normal thing ;-)

Dogger69
Mikeybach
Manzanilla
Sulkisu
Mojisola
Davenport151
Pinkypoopydoo
Stormyweather
Notanewuser ;-)
Princessdon
Singlesue
Claire16c
Scootw1
Deeplyblue

Dogger69

As your husband works full time, and you have not worked in the past few years, you will not be entitled to ESA.

MoreRosey

So if I cannot claim ESA, what benefit could I claim?

Dogger69

MoreRosey wrote: »

So if I cannot claim ESA, what benefit could I claim?

Any benefit you claimed would be dependent on your household income. You would be looking at working tax credits, housing benefit and council tax support, but none of these would be affected by you being pregnant.

FBaby

MoreRosey wrote: »

So if I cannot claim ESA, what benefit could I claim?

In addition to all the benefits you are already claiming? Why do you think that being pregnant again suddenly opens the door to more entitlement? Once your child is born, your CB and tax credits will increase, but in the meantime, your circumstances have not changed from a benefit perspective.

MoreRosey

Well that is what I wanted to find out.

When my daughter (my first child was born), I received maternity allowance after she was born. As I am not working, I wanted to find out what or are there any benefits for pregnant women who do not work. I do not work because we cannot afford full time childcare.

I have read about ESA and income support and I have read pregnant women can claim for entitlements some weeks before the child is born.

I don`t think there is anything wrong finding out if there more benefits to claim. It will certainly help me and I am eager to get back to work and it really annoys me that mothers like me are ignored, and somewhat misunderstood (by FBaby??) it is stupid that importance is given to those who purposely do not want to work.

nicnak66

esa is only paid if you have a medical condition preventing you from working. pregnancy is not an illness. even then you wouldnt get the income based as hubby works full time and since you have not worked in the last 3 years you cant get the conts based either. only single mothers can claim income support but even then there are rigourous checks that they are single.

Poppie68

MoreRosey wrote: »

Well that is what I wanted to find out.

When my daughter (my first child was born), I received maternity allowance after she was born. As I am not working, I wanted to find out what or are there any benefits for pregnant women who do not work. I do not work because we cannot afford full time childcare.

I have read about ESA and income support and I have read pregnant women can claim for entitlements some weeks before the child is born.

I don`t think there is anything wrong finding out if there more benefits to claim. It will certainly help me and I am eager to get back to work and it really annoys me that mothers like me are ignored, and somewhat misunderstood (by FBaby??) it is stupid that importance is given to those who purposely do not want to work.

No one is ignoring 'mothers like you' You don't work because you can't afford childcare, say you want to work, and that it's stupid that importance is given to those who purposely do not want to work....surely you come under that heading as you are pregnant again while knowing you can't afford to work and pay childcare.

Esa for pregnant woman is for those that cannot work due to illness.

Dogger69

nicnak66 wrote: »

esa is only paid if you have a medical condition preventing you from working. pregnancy is not an illness. even then you wouldnt get the income based as hubby works full time and since you have not worked in the last 3 years you cant get the conts based either. only single mothers can claim income support but even then there are rigourous checks that they are single.

Actually ESA can be claimed by any pregnant lady from thirty weeks, but in the OP's case it would be means tested.

mikey_bach

Congratulations
When the baby is born you will be entitled to extra child tax credits, child benefit and maybe working tax credits
You dont get it now, but if your husband is on a low wage you may be entitled to it witwo children
Have you tried to see if you are entitled to housing or council tax benefit, you may be able to clim income based

manzanilla

I am married, pregnant with my second child, have been a homemaker for 3 years.

congratulations, how nice!

My husband works full time and we get child tax credit, housing benefit and child benefit.

If you don't go back to work, then you will get more Child benefit and more child tax credit. Have a look at http://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx and do a 'what if' claculation by pretending you now have a 3 months old. This which will show you roughly what you will get (at some point Universal credit will come in and change everything, but all you can do is look at the current situation)

Am I entitled to some extra benefit, now that I am pregnant?

No, sorry. Benfits are mainly intended to replace earned income and you have been choosing not to earn. A good choice for your family, probably, but it means no maternity benefits.

I do want to start work after 6 months after my child is born and need some support, so can I apply for esa??

No ESA is not a possible option for a lot of reasons.

When your baby is 6 months, you can look at going back to work and you should get some help with childcosts through Working Tax Credit. Again use the turn2us calculator to see how that would work.

Will esa deduct my housing benefit?

That calculator will let you explore the options.