Can't afford to return to work after maternity leave

Phoebe-

Hi everyone,

I am expecting my first baby in July and I am just starting to panic a bit about money. I've looked into SMP and as my wage is already very low, it works out about the same as my monthly income, so I'm sure we will manage whilst I am on maternity leave.

My concern is returning to work after maternity leave. Childcare costs are so high, that I would be pretty much working just to pay the child care fees, leaving us with no money from my salary each month. My husband works, but his wage is low too (£12k) so we're not in a position to live off his wage alone. I'm left just baffled and unsure about what we're going to do.

If I don't go back to work after my maternity leave ends, are there any benefits I would be entitled to? I've looked at the benefit checkers online, and they suggest I would get £20 a week child benefit, but it says I'm not entitled to anything else. I've done it as if it's this time next year and I'm not working, but because it takes into account I had an income via SMP for some of the year, it says I'm not entitled to anything else. Is this correct, or is there the possibility of housing benefit for example?

Thanks in advance for any help/advice.

pmlindyloo

How many hours does your OH work?

enjoyyourshoes

Could look at Au pair from within EU

Phoebe-

He works 30 hours a week.
We wouldn't be allowed an au pair to live here (rented house)

GwylimT

Well your husband can go full time in his job, find a second job or find a completely new job to work fulltime. If you don't work full time you will be able to do the same when you can.

Have you been looking at nurseries or child minders? Childminders are often cheaper and tend to offer calmer environments. Do you employers offer childcare vouchers.

If you post an SOA people can help you out with your monthly budget as well, a fresh pair of eyes is often a great help.

Before we conceived our daughter we knew we didn't wanr both of us working full time, but part time each so until she was born we both put away half our wages so not only did we become accustomed to it, we also built savings for a couple of baby products and for a rainy day.

FBaby

30 hours is only 4 days a week. Could you look for hours when your OH is at home?

PlymouthMaid

Have you input your details into the Working Tax Credits calculator as I am sure that if you only have 12000 per year you would qualify for some help but in the long term, advice about increasing hours or bettering job prospects for the future is important.

https://www.gov.uk/tax-credits-calculator

Phoebe-

Husband works 30 hours a week over 5 days, as he works as a cover teacher in a school. He is unable to find another job which is more hours, as he's only just about managing the hours he is doing due to ill health (but does not qualify for DLA or whatever it's called now).

I work 30 hours per week also, again in a school as a teaching assistant, so spread out over 5 days. I earn £850 per month and husband earns £950.

We've looked into child minders who charge about £4 per hour, so about £32 a day.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

don't want to be harsh here, but used to be that one of the grannies would be delighted to look after the wee one.

PlymouthMaid

I wouldn't say the above was harsh but it does make an awful lot of assumptions about the availability of grandparents and their lives. I am a new Nan but I am likely to be working myself for another 15 years so whether I would be 'delighted' or not is academic.

GwylimT

Then he should definitely look for another job, as an experienced teacher I'm yet to meet any cover supervisor earning less than £16k. You can both increase your hours by doing simple things like tutoring if you are unwilling to find a fulltime position.

You can also work during the holidays by offering extended tutoring, it is also possible to work at local play schemes during the holidays.

Have you used the hmrc tax credit calculator?