Confused regarding benefits/help

Jagmoide

Good Morning all,

Me and my partner have just had our 1st child. She is currently on maternity leave but will be heading back to work in March.

We are just a little worried that we are going to struggle to afford living in rented accommodation and sending our child to nursery and we are here looking for a little advise on what help we are eligible for.

Our combined salary would be around 40k per year with both of us working full time but my partners aim is to work reduced hours.

We are currently claiming for child benefits which equate to £80 monthly but we are extremely unsure if we would be eligible to claim for any additional support.

Any advise would be an absolute god send as we are close to clueless about this.

Thanks in advance!

pmlindyloo

As you would be claiming means tested benefits for the first time you need to check whether you are in a full service universal credit area or can claim legacy benefits.
Check here:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/before-you-apply/Check-if-youre-eligible-for-Universal-Credit/

To be honest, without knowing how many hours your partner is going to work, how much you child care costs will be and whether you can get childcare vouchers from one of your employers, plus whether you have any savings, it is going to be very difficult for anyone to work out.

So check first as to whether you are in a full service UC area.

You can 'play around' with a benefits calculator - try https://www.turn2us.org.uk - using different scenarios - or you could go to Citizens Advice for benefit 'better off' calculations.