Maternity Pay Help

laurasavon

I am currently on maternity leave and soon to be dropping to the statutory rate of just under £140 per week.

My other half works earning just under £100 per week (he will have little one when I'm back at work so we will save on child care :-) ).

Due to the low income we are receiving I called the working tax credits helpline and they sent out some forms but they have informed me that we are not entitled to anything because during the tax year we earnt over the threshold (I was working full time so able to support us), I have also noticed that I am being taxed on my maternity pay so it's not even £140 a week.

Is there anything I can do? To go back to work I have to give two months notice to end my maternity leave - help please!

Mrs_Soup

But a new tax year starts in about two weeks during which you won't have earned anything other than SMP so will that not have an effect. I haven't had tax credits for a few years but they used to base it initially on your previous year's income but then you could give them an update and predicted income for the forthcoming year exactly to take account of such things as SMP.

chrisbur

laurasavon wrote: »

I am currently on maternity leave and soon to be dropping to the statutory rate of just under £140 per week.

I have also noticed that I am being taxed on my maternity pay so it's not even £140 a week.

Is there anything I can do? To go back to work I have to give two months notice to end my maternity leave - help please!

Your tax is decided by what you are being paid so because you are paying tax at the moment it does not mean you will be paying tax when you are on the lower rate. What is your tax code?

laurasavon

Thanks will call them back as they advised me it was on previous years income (where I was working for the majority)

laurasavon

I think my tax code is 647L but I'm not 100% sure

pmlindyloo

laurasavon wrote: »

I am currently on maternity leave and soon to be dropping to the statutory rate of just under £140 per week.

My other half works earning just under £100 per week (he will have little one when I'm back at work so we will save on child care :-) ).

Due to the low income we are receiving I called the working tax credits helpline and they sent out some forms but they have informed me that we are not entitled to anything because during the tax year we earnt over the threshold (I was working full time so able to support us), I have also noticed that I am being taxed on my maternity pay so it's not even £140 a week.

Is there anything I can do? To go back to work I have to give two months notice to end my maternity leave - help please!

You may be entitled to HB and CT support during your maternity leave.

If you have a mortgage it might be worth talking to your lender and asking for a payment holiday/go interest only/extend the loan. This might help in the short term.

laurasavon

Thank you

I have some self employed income (Avon rep) and my tax code is adjusted to take the tax from my employment throughout the year rather than sending a lump sum at the end of the tax year. I also have a staff mortgage which is a benefit in kind and I think that also effects my tax code.

laurasavon

I tried to claim HB and CT but they are wanting payslips which I don't have - they are online and I don't have a printer for my work computer (only in the office which I don't visit as I'm on mat leave)

They also want bank statements which I don't keep so I'm not sure what I can do until I get my next statement in the post

laurasavon

I should have said currently not living in mortgaged property and living in a rented house

chrisbur

laurasavon wrote: »

I think my tax code is 647L but I'm not 100% sure

On 647L there would be about £3 tax on £140 a week. This allowance goes up a bit in April but as you have other income cannot say what the tax position will be. I would think that you should be getting next year's tax code soon.