HELP!! Pregnant working agency and partner back at uni!!

dooleysdollymix

Hi

Some advice needed please!

We found out we are pregnant a few days ago, not planned so still in shock.
Basically I started working for a healthcare agency in September and have looked through my handbook and it does not have a section on maternity leave, pay, being able to work etc. It just says that you have to notify management for them to carry out a risk assessment.

My partner decided to go back to uni in September and is in the first year of his degree and working in hospitality (started in October) to top up his student loan.

Very worried about pay and how we are going to be able to afford this baby. We have a six year old and don't claim any benefits at the moment other than child benefit, we are also in rented accommodation.

Any information about my rights with work? Entitlement to help? Or whether it would be best for me to try and change my job? And how long I would have to work to be entitled to maternity pay? And anything else you can think of would be a great help!

Thank you!

FollyKnockers1

Keep a look out on preloved, ebay, facebook groups for equipment, sign up to Emma's Diary for vouchers and promotions.


Stock up on the essentials and get rid of any luxury items (sky, 2 cars, takeaways, fags, booze etc) Look at your finances and see if you can cut as much down as you can!


With regards to your job - is it permanent? How far pregnant are you? You don't have to tell them until you are 24 weeks so you have a while yet - BUT - working in healthcare you may need to take extra precautions (as opposed to a desk 9-5 job) so I would advise you to tell them as soon as its safe to (after 12 week scan?)

loubie_lou

FollyKnockers1 wrote: »

Keep a look out on preloved, ebay, facebook groups for equipment, sign up to Emma's Diary for vouchers and promotions.


Stock up on the essentials and get rid of any luxury items (sky, 2 cars, takeaways, fags, booze etc) Look at your finances and see if you can cut as much down as you can!


With regards to your job - is it permanent? How far pregnant are you? You don't have to tell them until you are 24 weeks so you have a while yet - BUT - working in healthcare you may need to take extra precautions (as opposed to a desk 9-5 job) so I would advise you to tell them as soon as its safe to (after 12 week scan?)

That's a REALLY bad idea not to tell your employers pretty much straight away. My advice would be to let it sink in for a few days then tell them. Working in healthcare at 24 weeks and not telling your employer could have serious repercussions on both of you if something were to happen in the work place/a service users home.

Why are you not claiming any other benefits, being in low paid work could get you more surely? Or is it because your partner is at university. I am too and there is lots of top up for families with children.

All the best with whatever you decide.

dooleysdollymix

Luckily for us we still have a lot of equipment left over from our 6 year old ( I know such a hoarder!!)

I have not heard of Emma's Diary so thanks for that I will have a look!
We don't pay for sky and only have one car; my partner does not drive but it is something I want us to invest in while I am pregnant for when we need to go to the hospital!! But we wouldn't be getting two cars! We can definitely cut down on take aways and coffees out etc. We don' t spend on cigarettes and booze will definitely be cut down by half now anyway!

My job is a permanent role. Due to experiencing severe pains whilst at work over the weekend and having to cancel all my shifts this week to go for an emergency scan work already know of my pregnancy. (I was just wondering if I changed my job to something with regular hours rather than risk not being offered a lot with the agency work, when I should tell a new employer - again this would be a healthcare role.)

Loubie_lou I did not know I could claim any other benefits? Working with an agency I have been getting anything between £108-£354 for a weeks work. How would I work this out??

Thank you for your replies!

Caz3121

do you not get child tax credits for your son?
have a look at one of the benefits calculator such as entitledto

dooleysdollymix

Thank you Caz3121

I do not currently get child tax credits for my son. I have just tried to use the benefits calculator you suggested but as my other half is a full time student the calculator does not work! Typical!
But it has advised me to call citizens advice. Thanks for your help!

duchy

Although I did manage to do it when pregnant and temping -a new permanent job whilst already pregnant may be very hard to find as who wants to employ someone who will work a few months and then disappear on MAT leave and possibly not return.

I was lucky enough to have a very specific skill set the employer needed and it was a very large company who tended to be a bit more picky about following employment legislation to the nth degree. Even then I really didn't expect to get the job if I am honest.

As for tax credits-as you aren't currently claiming I wouldn't bother with waiting to talk to CAB but just put in an on-line claim today.

RAS

www.turn2us.org.uk

Check now, when you stop work, after baby is born and etc as your entitlement will change several times.

RAS

The other option is for your partner to speak to their welfare people at University who will know how all this works?

lika_86

Could your partner possibly complete his degree through the Open University?

purpleshoes_2

dooleysdollymix wrote: »

Luckily for us we still have a lot of equipment left over from our 6 year old ( I know such a hoarder!!)

I have not heard of Emma's Diary so thanks for that I will have a look!
We don't pay for sky and only have one car; my partner does not drive but it is something I want us to invest in while I am pregnant for when we need to go to the hospital!! But we wouldn't be getting two cars! We can definitely cut down on take aways and coffees out etc. We don' t spend on cigarettes and booze will definitely be cut down by half now anyway!

My job is a permanent role. Due to experiencing severe pains whilst at work over the weekend and having to cancel all my shifts this week to go for an emergency scan work already know of my pregnancy. (I was just wondering if I changed my job to something with regular hours rather than risk not being offered a lot with the agency work, when I should tell a new employer - again this would be a healthcare role.)

Loubie_lou I did not know I could claim any other benefits? Working with an agency I have been getting anything between £108-£354 for a weeks work. How would I work this out??

Thank you for your replies!

If you dont qualify for maternity pay you can claim maternity allowance from 26 weeks onwards.