Advice needed please...

Darksparkle

Lbstyling wrote: »

I thought £13k sounded unlikely. So wife would get £130 per week for maternity pay I think yes, but as neither of us would be working, can anyone suggest what kind of benefit is available?

Alternatively I can try for part time teaching, but its again unlikely I can get it in teaching in my NQT year, and the hours would be likely spread out over 4 or 5 days rendering it no good for me as you can't start pouring concrete and stop in the middle ( for instance) or disconnect the water supply, then return in a week.

I thought teachers usually got some form of enhanced pay for maternity?

She is still considered working whilst on SMP (closer to £140 per week)

As mentioned, there may be tax credits but without knowing 2015/16 and 2016/17 income it's impossible to say.

Plus child benefit.

Could you see about doing some part time work? Evenings or weekends? That would still give you time to do the DIY. Doesn't need to be teaching but a shop or bar work for some extra cash.

swingaloo

I would suggest that having a baby when you are not earning or living in suitable conditions is the irresponsible thing to do.

nannytone_2

child tax credit, child benefit and council tax support.

her SMP would be seen as enough for both of you ( couples rate benefits is around £114 a week)
JSA would be out as you wouldn't be looking for work.

if you got a job for 24 hours or more a week you could claim working tax credit but the amount would be dependant on income and affected by the previous years income

Darksparkle

nannytone wrote: »

child tax credit, child benefit and council tax support.

her SMP would be seen as enough for both of you ( couples rate benefits is around £114 a week)
JSA would be out as you wouldn't be looking for work.

if you got a job for 24 hours or more a week you could claim working tax credit but the amount would be dependant on income and affected by the previous years income

She would still be considered working for the first 39 weeks of her maternity anyway so would meet criteria for WTC assuming she works at least 24hrs per week normally.

sangie595

It strikes me that you have misunderstood the system. There aren't benefits for people who choose not to work. Benefits are not paid for being unemployed, they are paid for having no choice about being out of work. It isn't an allowance to let the taxpayer pay you to sort out your living arrangements. What you actually need is not benefits, but a better plan. The one you have right now is what is irresponsible. This is your family and your child, and you need to be bringing in an income to support them. So either you go to work, or your wife needs to return to her work and you become the one with parental care.

Lbstyling_2

Part time work is possible in another field of course, and possibly even teaching cover work, but this option is detrimental to my career more than not working. I'm just weighing options up at this point.

Other option is the wife return to work much earlier than required, but this is a little awkward, as caring for a baby while doing major renovation again might not prove practical.

Darksparkle

Lbstyling wrote: »

Income 2015 sept to 2016 July is £18k.

Part time work is possible in another field of course, and possibly even teaching cover work, but this option is detrimental to my career more than not working. I'm just weighing options up at this point.

What is the income for the tax year 2015/16? That's April 2015 to April 2016.

What is the expected income for the tax year 2016/17? That's April 2016 to April 2017.

Lbstyling_2

income April 2016- 17

Darksparkle

Lbstyling wrote: »

income April 2016- 17 is about £4200 as contract ends July.

I'm looking for the total income for both of you for both tax years. That's what tax credits is based on.

Lbstyling_2

Poppy9- I estimate the work would total £50k + for someone to do it. Whereas I can do it for approx 6k in materials.