What are we entitled to?

LM82

Can someone advise if we would be entitled to anything:-

Our current situation is my partner works 31 hours per week, paid roughly £900 every 4 weeks. I am self employed however almost 7 months pregnant with twins, in early pregnancy I was unwell so unable to work earning nothing, now it's just too much for me to do so it's basically not worth my while. I'm making very little to nothing per week. I did apply for Working Tax Credits previously, but based on our situation last year, with me working full time, they knocked us back. We are basically living off my partners wage which is no good. I plan on going to Citizens Advice to ask but that will be Monday before I get there.

Can anyone offer any advice? Thanks

LM82

Our income would just be his for the upcoming year, he has asked for extra hours but none going so far, I would need to have a look at his wage slip to work out the average gross income. I do have a mortgage but in the process of putting the place up for sale as we don't have room here so will then have to private let, the way the current market is we won't be left with much after the sale, as I am self employed technically they don't let you buy again until 3 years.

pmlindyloo

You may be eligible for Maternity Allowance. Have you been paying class 2 NI contributions as part of your self employment?

See here:

https://www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance/overview

If you are unsure then just apply!

Blondbubbles is helping with tax credits.

You may be eligible for council tax support. Get a claim form from your local council offices.

Can you stay where you are until the babies are born? (congrats by the way?)

If you can it may be worth asking your mortgage lender if you can have a payment holiday for a while. They will sometimes grant this especially as you intend to sell in the near future. Worth a try.

Things will change once you have your twins and rent.

You will be able to put in claims for child tax credits, child benefit, housing benefit and council tax support based on your partner's low income.

pmlindyloo

You may also be entitled to a Sure Start Maternity grant if you are awarded child tax credits as the grant can be claimed up to 3 months after the births.

Have a read of this:

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Sure-Start-Maternity-Grant/Who-can-get-a-Sure-Start-Maternity-Grant#guide-content

LM82

Thanks everyone, much appreciated.

Yes I done the tax credit application online and updated on our circumstances. Our home isn't yet up for sale so no rush to move and I can't see it being sold quickly this close to Christmas.

I've been reading up on the Maternity Grant and MA and was going to apply before the babies birth but I'll hold off and wait until they're here and I can get everything sorted out together. Hopefully my OH can get extra hours and I can work again soon after my babies are born - working from home makes such a difference.

I've never claimed any benefits in my life so it's all confusing to me Thanks again.

TBagpuss

have you chekced here http://www.entitledto.co.uk/ ?