What benefits am I entitled to? Pregnant and Unemployed.

Londonsu

TELLIT01 wrote: »

mistymemo, the way the benefits system works doesn't help those who have worked for years and contributed to the finances of the country. It is far more interested in providing assistance to those who won't take responsibility for themselves.

I would in the main agree with that seeing as I am one of the people who would not get anything if I lost my job, BUT there has to be a cut off for any income based benefits I realise that and its time the OP realised that as well

kingfisherblue

Means tested benefits are based on household income, not on expenditure. £29,000 a year means that once the baby is born, assuming no disabilities or childcare costs, the only benefit you will receive is Child Benefit of just over £20 a week.


As well as taking the advice of others here, you might want to consider popping over to the Debt Free Wannabe Board and posting a Statement of Affairs. The posters over there can help you to make savings in the different areas of your life.


For the baby, have a look on Freecycle to save money. The only things I would definitely buy brand new are mattresses for the cot and Moses basket, and a car seat.

missbiggles1

mistymemo wrote: »

Thanks for your comments as if you know us or our situation really well. You may have read too many Daily Mail stories and watched too much of Benefit Streets or you have absolutely NO clue what it is like to live in London. Ponce off the state?? I have worked in full time employment since I was 17 years old and not once claimed benefits even when there were gaps between different jobs. And as a woman I have EVERY right to having a child and expect some help from the government especially when David Cameron promised he would help hardworking families such as ourselves. The fact that my husband is in debt is due to his personal reasons. Before you are all condesending, judgemental and self righteous, realise that there are people out there who having paid their taxes for years and provided a service to their community deserve some assistance even for a few months. LOSER.

Somebody's telling porkies!


"I lost my job on 1st July this year and the day after losing my job I called up jobcentreplus to claim jobseekers and was given an appointment on the 9th July to attend. I attended and filled in the jobseekers claim pack and was handed a brown housing benefit form to fill in so it could be sent to Glasgow Head office. Iwas told to await a decision.

Few weeks later passed and I started receiving jobseekers benefits but heard nothing about housing benefit. "

October 2010

wiltsguy_2

No way! That's not fair! I can't beleive that the goverment won't pay your rent so that you can dedicate your OH's wages to clearing his debts while you take time off to have a baby!:mad:

GwylimT

No one has a right to have a child.

Your income is far too high for any benefits, is there a reason why you will not be able to return to work for eight months?

If you post an SOA with earnings from your partner early, it will help you make a better plan.

nonnatus

OP - I was quite sympathetic until you posted that "as a woman you had every RIGHT to have a child and expect this Government to assist you financially with it..."

What a daft statement. By all means, have a baby if you want one, but it's NOT everyone else's responsibility to pay for that child.
You'll get Child Benefit like everyone else does (at the moment) but after that it's down to you and your partner / family to provide for you.

Sorry if that isn't what you wanted to hear. Babies and benefits are not "rights".

giddypenguin

I bet this is a really stressful time for you - you thought you'd be going into this with at least SMP, now you're unemployed with a new mouth to feed and (if it were me, I'd be) upset, confused, stressed and bloody worried.

OP is asking a question of what help there might be for them - I think anyone in their situation would try and find out all their options.

As others have said, it looks like for the moment child benefit, and maternity allowance are all that are available - but when you go back to work you may get some help with childcare costs via tax credits.

I really think its worth getting some debt advice (on these forums, and in the real world, eg: https://capuk.org/) - it sounds like if you can reduce your payments on those, that would be your best option.

Other than that - babies really don't need everything new - look at local selling groups on facebook for second hand clothes and toys. Try and reduce as many as your outgoings as you can. x

shegirl

I suggest getting help with the debts,you won't get any housing benefit. May I also suggest looking at yourselves as a partnership rather than all the 'he' and 'I' in relation to money and benefits

wiltsguy_2

nonnatus wrote: »

Babies and benefits are not "rights".

100% spot on!

soolin

mistymemo wrote: »

Thanks for your comments as if you know us or our situation really well. You may have read too many Daily Mail stories and watched too much of Benefit Streets or you have absolutely NO clue what it is like to live in London. Ponce off the state?? I have worked in full time employment since I was 17 years old and not once claimed benefits even when there were gaps between different jobs. And as a woman I have EVERY right to having a child and expect some help from the government especially when David Cameron promised he would help hardworking families such as ourselves. The fact that my husband is in debt is due to his personal reasons. Before you are all condesending, judgemental and self righteous, realise that there are people out there who having paid their taxes for years and provided a service to their community deserve some assistance even for a few months. LOSER.

Firstly congratulations on the baby, whilst this is not a good time for you to be having one, what is done is done and it is surprising how little a family can live on if they need to. I would strongly Echo the advice given to look on free cycle and second hand groups for baby things, when I had my first child I was the main wage earner so it was a real struggle to give up my salary and due to issues at work I also got no maternity pay. My son never went without, although on occasions my husband and I did (beans on toast three times a week for dinner anyone?)

As for the state rewarding hard working parents, yes they do. However, your hiusband brings in a living wage, even in London, and you appear to agree without the debt that you could live on it until you return to work yourself. That means any benefits 'needed' are only to pay off exising debts- and that is not what benefits are for.