New to this, should I claim?

mess0804

Hi,
Pls bear with me. I always worked and never claimed anything so have no idea. When I try the benefits calculators they ask me for money earned in 2012/2013 so I am confused.
In 2012/2013 both me and my husband worked.
But from July 2013 I am in maternity leave earning the fabulous amount of £136 a week . My husband is self employed and usually he earns ok, but this year was a bit bad and on top of that he had to stay with me and the baby a couple of months (so no pay).
We are reaching the bottom of our savings.
When can we claim something: now or after April ?
where should I call for advice ?

thanks

mess0804

In 12/13 we had 21k me and around 23k husband.
First child.
This year I have worked only april, may and june than maternity. So by the end of the year it will be around 8k. Husband has been out of work for a while so maybe 9k (or 10).
We don't pay for childcare, I am taking care of the baby. Planing to go to work in the summer we'll see the options than.
We almost reached the bottom of our savings as rent is killing us (£1050 London).
Just wondered if we can get anything, we never claimed anything as we always worked, but this year is tough.

mess0804

So probably until I make the claim and they process it's April..... Do they give something for this year or it's the same to wait after 6 april ??
I am so confused and with little time to read all the info due to baby.
Now I am getting only the £20 child benefit.
I tried entitledto website but again I have to put earning for 12/13 and nothing.

And if this year in July I will go back to work I will not get anything again ? So because my situation was bad just for a year I am not gettting anything?

mess0804

thanks. I just called for the form.
It is so complicated, it'd not for people that work and pay taxes and have one bad year, it's for people that stay year after year on benefits

Morglin

mess0804 wrote: »

thanks. I just called for the form.
It is so complicated, it'd not for people that work and pay taxes and have one bad year, it's for people that stay year after year on benefits

Everyone that claims benefits, whether out of work or claiming tax credits, has to learn about the system, so you are finding it no harder than anyone else on here.

It's a case of ploughing through the system.

Lin