Maternity pay ending, what then?

Tara313

Hi,

I don't know if I'm posting this in the right section, I'm sorry if not 😔.

I'm currently 4.5 months into my years maternity with my baby girl, I know you only get paid 39 weeks SMP so my maternity pay will end in Oct, I would like to take the whole year off to spend as long as I can with my little girl so my question is what happens money wise between Oct and Jan. I'm also in receipt of child and working tax, child Ben and get help with my rent too as I only work part time so don't earn enough to cover all my rent etc. I'm worried that all my help will stop and I'll have to go back to work in Oct which I really don't want to do, can anyone advise me what benefits will stop and which will carry on if any? If I have to go back in Oct then needs must but I'd love to stay home with little one them extra couple of months.

Thank you 😊

calcotti

Your working tax credits also end at 39 weeks but all your other benefits will continue. You should tell your local authority about the changes as your Housing Benefit may increase (and Council Tax Reduction).

Alternatively you can claim Universal Credit. This will end your tax credits and housing benefit but may be better - use a benefit calculator to check https://www.entitledto.co.uk/

Kentish_Dave

I’lol phrase this carefully, to avoid the attention of the perennially offended, and am aware that this is likely a wind-up thread, but...

What was your plan when you chose to have a baby, and what is the other partner doing to support you?

kingfisherblue

Unfortunately if you cannot afford to remain off work, you may have to return once your maternity leave finishes. It's the same for many mothers all over the country. My daughter is currently cutting back further so that she can take an extra month off unpaid, otherwise she would be returning a couple of weeks before Christmas, and would be working on Christmas Day. Instead, she is hoping to return to work in the New Year. If she can't afford it, she will return at the end of her maternity leave.

tboo

Tara313 wrote: »

Hi,

I don't know if I'm posting this in the right section, I'm sorry if not ��.

I'm currently 4.5 months into my years maternity with my baby girl, I know you only get paid 39 weeks SMP so my maternity pay will end in Oct, I would like to take the whole year off to spend as long as I can with my little girl so my question is what happens money wise between Oct and Jan. I'm also in receipt of child and working tax, child Ben and get help with my rent too as I only work part time so don't earn enough to cover all my rent etc. I'm worried that all my help will stop and I'll have to go back to work in Oct which I really don't want to do, can anyone advise me what benefits will stop and which will carry on if any? If I have to go back in Oct then needs must but I'd love to stay home with little one them extra couple of months.

Thank you ��

If you knew while you were pregnant that you intended to have extra time off then saving for these 'short months' would have been obvious - I did this so I could have the 3 months extra, it was hard saving but worth it - then I went back to work


However as you will not be classed as at work for these months then tax credits will have to be informed - you will then have to inform them again if you return to work or not


Ask the child's father for help if you do not already as maintenance is disregarded unfortunately