Pregnant with a new job

MunchOff

Hello good team of knowledgeable people.

I have just landed my dream job in the music biz in December after a 3 month interview and approval process.

I found out that I am pregnant very shortly after my first day. I've wanted to be as honest with my manager as possible, so I told him just after xmas once I'd done scans and all the rest (please don't tell me to go get an abortion, I'm supposed to be infertile so this really is a blessing it's just badly timed, plus by the time I knew, it was already past the time). My boss and his boss are actually really supportive, turns out they really like me and don't want to fire me or anything which is a weight of my mind. There is no dad in the picture.

So, new job HR states that I am not covered for maternity, which I get, I've tried to work the gov.uk site and it's kind of confusing, I also live on a canal boat, and need to get onto dry land (too many issues with water and electricity, to add baby would be dangerous) so I need to figure out how to get a property that's affordable and near my work for when I go back once baby is 6 months old.

Who here knows what support I can get please? I don't do the dole, have ALWAYS had a job, I do have some savings, I've no idea what I'm supposed to do or when and there is a lot of info out there, some of it goes against what other things say. I'm only planning on being out of full time employment for 6 months before going back to my role. I really need some straight up guidance. Thank you for any informative comments

Alice_Holt

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/rights-at-work/parental-rights/maternity-pay-what-youre-entitled-to/

https://www.gov.uk/pay-leave-for-parents/y

Maternity Allowance:
https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Maternity-Allowance/How-much-Maternity-Allowance-will-I-get

Universal Credit
https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/new-to-universal-credit/children-and-childcare/

calcotti

MunchOff wrote: »

I do have some savings

If you have more than £16,000 of savings that will exclude you claiming Universal Credit.

Afraid_of_Kittens

Can the Father of your child help out?

snapdoodle

Congratulations OP, it must be a blessing. Good luck.

calcotti

Afraid_of_Kittens wrote: »

Can the Father of your child help out?

Would guess not as OP said

MunchOff wrote: »

There is no dad in the picture

elsien

He might not be directly in the picture but unless there's very good reason why not he still has a responsibility to pay for his child.

Grey_Critic

£8,000 - The figure of £16,000 is for a couple.

MunchOff

Thank you for all the links, trouble is I've been to 3 out of 4 of these and there are various calculators that all say different things. Basically I'll be completely dependant on the state, hopefully in West London. I do have a little more than 8k in savings and 1.9k on one of my interest free credit cards, so I'll use one to wipe out the otheras that's a good idea anyway as interest free ends in 4 months anyway.

The father can't be involved because he is unstable and a flight risk and I'm terrified my baby will be taken to the father's home country. It's a constant worry so I can't tell him where I am or put him on the birth certificate. I'm completely ok with paying for my child, I just won't be able to for 6.5 months while I'm at home. I'm not afraid of hard work.

Despite the trauma I've been through, it really really is a blessing. My baby is completely 'normal' the midwife says, and I never knew how powerfully settling it would be to hear such ordinary words.

My dad, who is my hero, has offered bed and bord for 3 weeks when I'm recovering, but I need to have something sorted before I go into the hospital so I don't need to worry about it when I come out the other side.

Thank you again for any ideas and suggestions or other sources

xylophone

Is there any chance of living with your father until you have been back at work for six months and can show an established income again before looking for a home of your own?

JamoLew

Slightly off topic...but

The father has a right to know as does the child to have their fathers name on their birth certificate