Pregnancy and Unemployment

philjones2000

Hi

My partner has been out of work since the end of January when her last contract at the council ended. Since then she has been looking for something else but not claiming any kind of benefit or job seekers allowence etc, as we could cope on my wage for the short term.

We now find ourselves pregnant and the likely chances of her getting any work drop to zero! Is there any kind of financial help we can get while she is out of work and pregnant? It feels a bit cynical to suddenly start claiming job seekers allowence all of a sudden but with the now long term prospect of her being out of work and unable to find another position I can't think of another way. However- will she even be eligible for anything now she is pregnant?

Help! It's all so confusing (but also very exciting!)

Thanks

Phil

alwaysonthego_2

No she will not be able to claim maternity allowance or statutory matrnity pay because she is not in employment. She will be able to claim Job seekers depending how much you earn. Depending on your income you may be able to clam a SURE START MATERNITY GRANT up till the baby is 3 months old. Once the baby is born you will get tax credits and child benefit but you need to claim for them and the free packs you get after the baby is born include the forms. She will also be entitled to free prescripsions, eye tests and dentist treatment good luck!

Counting_Pennies_2

To qualify for any maternity allowance from the government your partner will need to be in work for 26 weeks out of a 66 week period up to the estimated week of childbirth. There is a qualifying figure of money that has to be earnt to qualify, you can get this from the tax office.

So it is very possible to get some casual employment between now and the birth in order to qualify.

I am sure there is some form of work out there, maybe not in your partners original field but something that will make ends meet.

Red_Panda_2

I was made redundant when I was about 7 weeks pregnant and faced with the possibility of not being able to get any maternity pay had to go and get a job sharpish before I showed and became unemployable!
Luckily I got a new job within a couple of weeks not a great one and didnt tell them I was pregnant in the interview.
Told them just before my 20 week scan and told them how surprised I was etc etc.

I did feel really bad but at the end of the day I had to look out for me and how to pay the mortgage / bills.

keelykat

Hello, I don't know about pregnancy-but if you are living with a partner/bf/gf/husband etc you can't claim any money from job seekers allowance as they are supposed to support you. You can carry on siging on, but will not get any money. I was told this just before moving in with my bf and i was currently out of work and signing on.

Sorry i can't help with maternity pay though.

keely.

alwaysonthego_2

keelykat wrote: »

Hello, I don't know about pregnancy-but if you are living with a partner/bf/gf/husband etc you can't claim any money from job seekers allowance as they are supposed to support you. You can carry on siging on, but will not get any money. I was told this just before moving in with my bf and i was currently out of work and signing on.

Sorry i can't help with maternity pay though.

keely.

I do think this must depend on your income level because when my dh left the army and I was working, he claimed job seekers and we got money for him

Noozan

keelykat wrote: »

Hello, I don't know about pregnancy-but if you are living with a partner/bf/gf/husband etc you can't claim any money from job seekers allowance as they are supposed to support you. You can carry on siging on, but will not get any money. I was told this just before moving in with my bf and i was currently out of work and signing on.

I think you can claim job seekers allowance for 6 months which is based on your NI contributions and not your household income.

SeptemberBaby_2

Hi, it is possible that your partner could claim Contributions Based Jobseekers Allowance as she has previously worked, which is not means tested, but it is the Income Based JSA which is the qualifying benefit for things like Healthy Start Milk/Fruit/Veg vouchers and the Healthy Start £500 Maternity Grant, as far as I am aware.

This is a good site for info: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Bfsl1/BenefitsAndFinancialSupport/Expecting_or_bringing_up_children/index.htm

Oh, and congratulatons!!!

x

Justie

can she become 'self employed' and pay the relevant contributions - as has been said she needs 26 weeks out of a 66 week qualifying period (you get to pick which weeks) to be able to get either of the maternity benefits - it's worth looking into as I can't get anything as I left it too late but I think I would have been able to had I started paying stamps sooner... or if she wants to work she can still get either temp work or even something like Tescos as long as she does the minimum number of hours to make up the stamp...

keelykat

alwaysonthego wrote: »

I do think this must depend on your income level because when my dh left the army and I was working, he claimed job seekers and we got money for him

I was never asked what my OH was earning, just told i couldn't claim anything?

keely.

philjones2000

Thanks for the replies.

Great stuff- the maternity benefit stuff is soooo complicated!

If my calculations are correct I think she is 9 weeks short of the 26 weeks out of 66.

So we got to get her into work for 9 weeks!

The way I read it, she only needs to pick up £30 a week min for each of these 9 weeks, so a simple part time/temp place somewhere would be sufficient.

Is this right?

If so, is there any complications about where she works or who for? My dad has a small business and could "employ" her officially for £30 a week...