pregnancy work benefits advice

ub32

good afternoon

really in need of advice my partner is 28 weeks pregnant with out 3rd child
i had to quit work over 4 years ago to surport her has she has disabiltys
physical and mental illness's
4 years ago I did shift work so we didn't claim benefits only working tax child tax
but when she became ill she was told to claim esa and dla she was granted low rate mobility for dla
and for esa she has always been in the income related support group and she was just granted another 12 months in it after a medical in December but money isn't stretching far now
I firstly thought getting a small part time job not full so I'm not constantly away from my children and my partner but will only doing small hours a week affect her esa dla and our tax credits?
and is there any help with grants or small loans to help out with us having another child
back when our first was born 11 years ago there was more help but once I started working we didn't feel the need to ask with our second has we wasn't entitled to anything but now we have our 3rd everything has changed we noticed the crisis loans have stopped and community care grants have also gone
my partner was told to redo her dla claim to try get care aswell as mobility as her illness just isn't getting easier but its just another worry has she was put on dla for indefinitely
we are so stuck on what we are entitled to these days and what work I could do to help us a little


any advice is greatly appreciated

GlasweJen

You're expected to keep the things you bought with your first grant for your subsequent children.

You can't apply for DLA any more, if she needs more help she would have to be assessed for personal independence payments which doesn't have a lower rate.

pmlindyloo

If you work then your earnings will be deducted from your ESA minus a small disregard - £10 a week, I think.

You would need to do 24 hrs a week to receive working tax credits and you would not receive any ESA if you did 24 hrs.

It is difficult to advise fully as we do not know the extent of your wife's disabilities and how much care she needs and how much you would have to help with the children.

If your wife's needs have increased since she claimed DLA then she should notify them and she will be assessed for PIP.

If she was awarded at least the standard daily living component of PIP then you could claim Carer's Allowance for her and work up to 16 hrs at minimum wage (google for the exact details)

Of course it may be that your earnings would make you better off than being on ESA. Without knowing further details it is impossible to say. Have you got a job in mind?

I suggest you go to CAB (or use a welfare advisor) and ask them to do an assessment as regards claiming PIP. This would then, at least, tell you whether Carer's Allowance is a possible option.

They would also be able to give you a better off calculation if you knew what hours and pay you would be receiving.

As regards help for the new baby there is no financial help except for a budgeting loan. However, this would have to be paid back.

Far better to use Freecycle/ask friends etc than get into debt. I believe there is a thread on MSE about how cheaply you can provide for a baby - will have a look to see if I can find it.

pmlindyloo

Here's the guide and forum discussion (right at end)

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/baby-checklist

Lanzarote1938

the child tax credit allowances change from April. Will you be affected by these changes?

ub32

thank you I'm looking for any job I'm qualified in painting decorating roofing, iv done a fair bit of work in various things over the years I made clutches for certain car brands
my partner suffers with severe endometriosis which is now followed by psd due to pregnancy
she suffers weight and eating issues, anxiety depression panic and also bi polar
it doesn't really affect her as a mother but it affects other aspects
shopping school runs simple things like the park as been an issue
the panic has affected her for years
the pain as been made easier by painkillers over the years and operations but with carrying our third child
some medication hasn't been an option and she doesn't want to put any risk on our unborn child as this is our last chance of a child has her endometriosis as got to a point where we was very lucky to finally conceive this baby
i don't think we will be entitled to tax credits for this baby as her due date is 30th april
i would be happy to go back to full time work and my partner is happy for me to do so but
if i was to go back to full time and have just the wage coming in
and her health changes to the point where i need to be a full time carer then we are back to
trying to claiming and it was hard enough to get the esa and dla but with help from the mental health team and doctors she was awarded lower rate dla and support group esa
but i don't feel secure in any job has i don't no how things will change over the next year for her
I'm stuck in limbo really because we need the money and she is happy for me to work full time
but i don't feel so confident which i should really
shes an amazing mum but her illness restrict her in normal daily things
cbt has helped in some things for her phobias but there's more stuff to work on with her mental health

NYM

Can't offer you any advice I'm afraid, but just wanted to wish you and your partner the very best with the new baby.

Darksparkle

If she is on ESA CB or DLA or PIP then you'd only need to work 16hrs to claim WTC.

FBaby

Go and work full-time and take it from there. She might very manage and if she really can't then come back and ask what to do then. What's the point of not trying to make as much money as possible now in case you can't in the future? As for deciding to have another baby under the circumstances well nothing much can be said.