One parent working

Adrianlivya12

Hello we have a 3 year old and another baby due next month.
my partner works full time shift work at various hours at a low wage.
I work full time and earn 50k and a car allowance.
we have no family to help with childcare locally.
It seems impossible for her to continue to work her role with the child commitments,meaning we will only have my wage for the foreseeable future.
Is she entitled to any benefits?
thanks

Devongardener

With that level of household income you and your partner will not be eligible for any benefits, other than child benefit, which will be subject to the child benefit charge back if your salary goes above £50K.

MattMattMattUK

Adrianlivya12 said:

Hello we have a 3 year old and another baby due next month.
my partner works full time shift work at various hours at a low wage.
I work full time and earn 50k and a car allowance.
we have no family to help with childcare locally.
It seems impossible for her to continue to work her role with the child commitments,meaning we will only have my wage for the foreseeable future.
Is she entitled to any benefits?
thanks

If finances are tight, is that because there are debts involved? It may be worth popping over the the Debt Free Wanabee section of the forum, posting an SOA and they will be able to help you find ways to economise, whether or not you have debts.

Spoonie_Turtle

The only way to tell for certain is to put your family circumstances into a benefits calculator.  

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/
https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/

peteuk

She should get SMP for the period of mat leave, then she has a choice to return to work and find child care or leave work and be a stay at home “mum”.

As noted above the simple answer is no.  Any claim for benefits will be as a couple and given your wage it will cancel out all means tested benefits and will effect even child benefit (also as above).

Many couples hold down F/T posts whilst juggling child care with no family near by, for various reasons so it’s not uncommon.

I also get the frustration of having worked for X years now we could do with a little support just because you have a decent wage its not there (Been there twice before) but in reality you have to cut your cloth accordingly, if there is debt involved then there’s old of advice on the debt forums. If not then its tighten belts (so to speak) until Kids are of to school ad then reassess.

My mum used to say you can never afford kids. She had three (dad was sole income into the house). Ive had two and my wife has worked F/T all their lives.