Benefits entitlement

Dorsetnew

Good morning,

I am hoping you guys can help myself and my wife out, we had our first child on 01/11/2015 and another due on 01/10/2016 (close together because we were told we could not have kids and assumed lightning would not strike twice!)

I work a minimum of 45 hours and my wife used to work 40 but has decided that going to work again for a while would be problematic as we have no one to look after our children! We have just applied for child benefit because we didnt know we could claim in (no one told us, and the health visitor assumed it was automatic)

With my wife about to hand her notice in, is there any punishments for making yourself unemployed? And what would we be able to claim? I currently earn £8.60 p/h but 90% of my money is eaten away by bills!

Thanks for any help

Darksparkle

What was the household income for tax year 2015/16 and what do you expect the household income to be for 2016/17?

Are you renting or a home owner?

pmlindyloo

Why is your wife handing in her notice? Is she not entitled to statutory maternity pay?

Dorsetnew

Income was around £23,000 and this year I expect it to be <£20,000 I work in manufacturing and the work just is not there at the moment

We are living with my parents at the moment.. so we pay nothing rent wise

Dorsetnew

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Why is your wife handing in her notice? Is she not entitled to statutory maternity pay?

That expires at the end of July

Toomuchdebt

Dorsetnew wrote: »

That expires at the end of July

How does it expire when she is pregnant again? Surely when it expires at end of July she just goes on maternity leave again as she is pregnant again?

Darksparkle

Dorsetnew wrote: »

Income was around £23,000 and this year I expect it to be <£20,000 I work in manufacturing and the work just is not there at the moment

We are living with my parents at the moment.. so we pay nothing rent wise

Does that include your partners income?

Darksparkle

Toomuchdebt wrote: »

How does it expire when she is pregnant again? Surely when it expires at end of July she just goes on maternity leave again as she is pregnant again?

She could go on maternity leave again but doesn't necessarily mean she can claim SMP again.

It will depend on gross earnings over a period of at least eight weeks up to and including the last payday before the end of the qualifying week. The qualifying week is the 15th week before the week baby is due.

pcman1985

On an income of £20,000 this year and £23,000 last year, you would be entitled to Child Tax Credit. This year it would be based on an income of £22,500 due to a £2,500 income decrease disregard.

Child tax payments would be around £29 a week, and goes up to £82 a week when your second child is born.

This is assuming you work 30+ hours a week with no childcare costs or disabilities.

Mojisola

Dorsetnew wrote: »

We have just applied for child benefit because we didnt know we could claim in (no one told us, and the health visitor assumed it was automatic)

It can be back-dated for three months - make sure you get the lump sum as well as the regular payments.

pmlindyloo

As regards your partner falling pregnant during maternity leave this link may be helpful

http://www.maternityaction.org.uk/advice-2/mums-dads-scenarios/pregnancy-during-maternity-leave/

I suggest your partner does not hand in her notice until you have both sought advice either from the employer or CAB about a second lot of statutory maternity pay being paid.