Single Mum on maternity leave from uni - what would I be entitiled to?

aimeemum

My hubby is a full time student (in his 4th year) and we've claimed all we can while he's been studying, especially this past 2 years when I've had 2 babies! lol

Child benefit you need a birth certificate so once you've done that it normally takes about 3 weeks but you'll get back pay from LO's arrival.

CTC - call them up and do what you can now over the phone. You can get them to send out the relevant forms and I even know of some people who open a non-claiming file ready for baby's arrival. Once LO is here you can then update them/send the forms off and they'll pay within 4 weeks of receipt, it's usually more like 2-3 weeks.

Once you're claiming CTC you may also be able to claim healthy start vouchers to help with grocery bills/formula costs and you should also get extra on top of your student income in the form of parental learning allowances, childcare help and dependents grants. Ask your midwife/HV about the HSVs as they can sign the forms for you.

May also be worth speaking to your council to see if you're entitled to housing/council tax help. Again, once LO is here, you get an element for them which may take you over the threshold and you may get some extra help there. You can apply before you know about your CTC award as their systems are all linked up so you can do them all at the same time. They'll need evidence like payslips, all your student income information, proof of your outgoings and bank statements.

Also, speak to your University about things like Access to Learning grants and hardship funds. I'm not sure how these work with Nursing courses but I'm pretty certain they're accessible to anyone who is a student registered with a university.

HTH and good luck with your LOs arrival. Hope you manage to get it all sorted.

Poppie68

Sorry i meant to add as i noticed you may not be getting your september loan payments it would be worth ringing housing benefit?? ....there is usually a couple of housing benefit workers who post and may come along this evening so maybe able to help..if not give them a call.

ABetterLife

Poppie68 wrote: »

From reading another post of the OP's she has got her self into a little debt....nothing i think that can't be sorted though.

Just keeping the roof over your head is the most important, along with electric/gas and food. All other debts and bills can be sorted after the above are paid.

I notice you have quarterly gas bills, why not consider a meter even though some people say you pay alot more aleast you are not having to pay out a large amount every 3 months.

As Blondebubbles said your TV licence is that correct? I understand you need a computer for your uni work but you need to try and get out of the Ipad contract and buy a second hand laptop or you can pick up a desktop cheaper...even worth asking friends or family if they have one begging.

You have debt for previous housing, who do you pay this to?
Remember paying non priority debts is not going to keep the roof over your head and reducing the payments to the min will make a big difference. These can be sorted when you are in a better financial postition.

Babies can be expensive but don't have to be...keep an eye on freecycle for clothes etc...carboots. Try and find a local baby clothes exchange, someone was telling me about one they have come across. 1 morning a month mothers get together and swap grown out of cothes and toys etc....

Thanks for replying and for reading my other post

Definitely. I must say, it's a HUGE relief knowing that I'm getting £500 this month to pay for rent. With that off my back, I'm not as anxious, but I recognise the need for changes. To be honest though, I have no idea how I'm going to pay the gas/electric when it comes. I'm banking on SFE paying me my last loan, but this is not guaranteed and I have other stuff I need to use that money for also.

RE a meter. I'm an introductory tenant so not sure if I can even change it just like that. However, even if I can I'm leery of a meter. I don't always have money on me/in my bank and I worry about being without gas/electric if I can't top up. I think you have to be very disciplined with meters and I'm just scared of getting in a situation because, obviously, once you get a meter you can't easily go back. It's definitely an option though, and I've also been looking into swapping tariffs/providers.

I have a laptop, so no problems there. TV license, I'm almost 100% sure it's correct. I pay monthly by payment card and I'm a new license holder.

How would I get out of the iPad contract though? I still have a long time left on it and there's no guarantee I could sell it and get the early termination fee back.

The previous housing debt is being paid to the council (my other post has more details of this if you're interested in knowing how I got into that situation). You're right though, perhaps I should call them and reduce it to £10 or £5 p/m. Will they accept this though, or is it up to me?

Baby wise, I'm not too worried. I plan to BF for a min of a year, and when she starts solids I'm going to puree/chop up whatever I'm eating to give to her. I get a lot of stuff from Freecycle also. Love the idea of the baby swap!

ABetterLife

tomtontom wrote: »

Sell the ipad.
Sell the iphone, get a cheap phone and put your contract sim in it.
The travel card is not essential until you are back at work/ uni.
Once baby is born you'll get child tax credits, child benefit and possibly help with rent.
Good luck!

If I sell the iphone and put my sim in it, I will be paying £57 a month for nothing right? Or do you mean to sell it and then pay off some of the contract with it? Still, I don't think it would be enough. Plus I can't see myself realistically selling it, as it's pretty essential to my life with all the apps/minutes/emails straight to my phone/photos. I would consider selling my iPad though.

I had to buy my travelcard for this month as I'm still at work/uni until the 27th but I won't buy it next month so that'll help!

Thank you! Appreciate the response.

ABetterLife

RAS wrote: »

Page 47 - paid for 52 weeks.

Speak to your Welfare Office or the person who manages your uni's notifiucation to NHSSBA

It's already arranged, I am getting it but it's not enough alone unfortunately.

ABetterLife

Poppie68 wrote: »

Sorry i meant to add as i noticed you may not be getting your september loan payments it would be worth ringing housing benefit?? ....there is usually a couple of housing benefit workers who post and may come along this evening so maybe able to help..if not give them a call.

I could do but I don't know if they can process a claim until bubs is born and registered, which could be weeks from now (due on the 7th but if she goes two weeks over!).

tomtontom

ABetterLife wrote: »

If I sell the iphone and put my sim in it, I will be paying £57 a month for nothing right? Or do you mean to sell it and then pay off some of the contract with it? Still, I don't think it would be enough. Plus I can't see myself realistically selling it, as it's pretty essential to my life with all the apps/minutes/emails straight to my phone/photos. I would consider selling my iPad though.

I had to buy my travelcard for this month as I'm still at work/uni until the 27th but I won't buy it next month so that'll help!

Thank you! Appreciate the response.

Sell the phone, put the sim in a cheap phone. You're still going to be paying for the contract but you'll be able to pay off your debts, get them out the way before baby is here.

An iphone is essential to no one. In a few weeks time the last thing on your mind will be apps and emails!

ABetterLife

aimeemum wrote: »

My hubby is a full time student (in his 4th year) and we've claimed all we can while he's been studying, especially this past 2 years when I've had 2 babies! lol

Child benefit you need a birth certificate so once you've done that it normally takes about 3 weeks but you'll get back pay from LO's arrival.

CTC - call them up and do what you can now over the phone. You can get them to send out the relevant forms and I even know of some people who open a non-claiming file ready for baby's arrival. Once LO is here you can then update them/send the forms off and they'll pay within 4 weeks of receipt, it's usually more like 2-3 weeks.

Once you're claiming CTC you may also be able to claim healthy start vouchers to help with grocery bills/formula costs and you should also get extra on top of your student income in the form of parental learning allowances, childcare help and dependents grants. Ask your midwife/HV about the HSVs as they can sign the forms for you.

May also be worth speaking to your council to see if you're entitled to housing/council tax help. Again, once LO is here, you get an element for them which may take you over the threshold and you may get some extra help there. You can apply before you know about your CTC award as their systems are all linked up so you can do them all at the same time. They'll need evidence like payslips, all your student income information, proof of your outgoings and bank statements.

Also, speak to your University about things like Access to Learning grants and hardship funds. I'm not sure how these work with Nursing courses but I'm pretty certain they're accessible to anyone who is a student registered with a university.

HTH and good luck with your LOs arrival. Hope you manage to get it all sorted.

Thank you very much! What does your husband study?

Okay, I'll do that with the CTC, thank you!

I get council tax exemption but they can't help me at all with the rent (which is kinda why I'm in this mess in the first place, being made homeless while in uni really messed me up). Will definitely apply for HB when she's here though.

Uni have given me ATL grant this month to help me with the rent they told me to apply again when the baby is born but only when I am in receipt of all eligible benefits which is kind of helpful/not helpful lol.

Thanks again!

ABetterLife

Poppie68 wrote: »

It took 3 weeks for my daughter to sort out her CB and CTC, just makesure you register your baby as soon as possible.

Shall do! Her name is decided already so should be pretty simple

Poppie68

ABetterLife wrote: »

Thanks for replying and for reading my other post

Definitely. I must say, it's a HUGE relief knowing that I'm getting £500 this month to pay for rent. With that off my back, I'm not as anxious, but I recognise the need for changes. To be honest though, I have no idea how I'm going to pay the gas/electric when it comes. I'm banking on SFE paying me my last loan, but this is not guaranteed and I have other stuff I need to use that money for also.


RE a meter. I'm an introductory tenant so not sure if I can even change it just like that. However, even if I can I'm leery of a meter. I don't always have money on me/in my bank and I worry about being without gas/electric if I can't top up. I think you have to be very disciplined with meters and I'm just scared of getting in a situation because, obviously, once you get a meter you can't easily go back. It's definitely an option though, and I've also been looking into swapping tariffs/providers.

I've no idea how the in introductory tenant and meters work, but it is always worth asking your local authorithy or housing association(whoever is your landlord) for some help and advice. If you get meters you just need to get into the habit of putting an affordable amount on each week, you will learn to live and budget with the amount you put on.

I have a laptop, so no problems there. TV license, I'm almost 100% sure it's correct. I pay monthly by payment card and I'm a new license holder.

Yes i think your liciense fee maybe correct, i'm sure my daughter paid the higher amount for the first 6 months?

How would I get out of the iPad contract though? I still have a long time left on it and there's no guarantee I could sell it and get the early termination fee back.

I've no idea how and even if you could get out of the contract but there is a consumer rights forum further down, maybe post the question on there.

The previous housing debt is being paid to the council (my other post has more details of this if you're interested in knowing how I got into that situation). You're right though, perhaps I should call them and reduce it to £10 or £5 p/m. Will they accept this though, or is it up to me?

I've no idea, but it's always worth a try.

Baby wise, I'm not too worried. I plan to BF for a min of a year, and when she starts solids I'm going to puree/chop up whatever I'm eating to give to her. I get a lot of stuff from Freecycle also. Love the idea of the baby swap!

I know some people seem to think babies cost an absolute fortune but they don't have too...depends if you have expensive tastes or not and if too proud to use 2nd hand clothes etc...i think buying alot of baby stuff new is an absolute waste of time. Ask at Uni if anyone is interested in a baby stuff swap.