Income Support Experts Please Help

missclairey_2

Hi there

I'm due to go on Maternity leave in October and my baby is due December, I'm entitled to Sta Mat Pay for 26 weeks - I earn £17,000 per annum so what will I get paid for the 26 weeks?

Also I know I can claim Child Tax Credits and Family Allowance once my baby comes in December but is there anything I can claim once I start my maternity in October as i'll only be getting Mat pay. Would I be entitled to Working Tax Credits? And how would I work out my earning from April-05 to April -06: I really don't think I will so could I claim Income Support in October when I start maternity or not?

Sorry about all the questions i've tried ringing but i get told different things all the time

Claire

eml_3

I am assuming you have been working for your employer for 26 weeks by the 15th week before your baby is due. This qualifies you for Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP).

For the first 6 weeks, you get 90% of average weekly earnings. For the next 20 weeks, you get £106 or 90% of average weekly earnings - whichever is less.

You can also claim Child Tax Credit and Child Benefit from the birth of your baby. You are treated as being in full time work while you are being paid SMP, so there should be no reason why you cannot claim Working Tax Credit, although it depends on your income.

If you are on maternity leave, you are counted as being in full time work, so you won't be eligible for income support.

Hope this helps. Try contacting https://www.maternityalliance.org.uk for more information or a local CAB or advice centre.

jenpoptab

Have a look here for rates of statutory maternity benefit :
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/lifeevent/benefits/statutory_maternity_pay.asp

You don't say whether you live with a partner, if this is the case the whole family income will be taken into consideration for benefits. You will only qualify for Child tax credit once baby is born and have to have child benefit to qualify for this. I believe on your income alone you would not qualify for working tax credit as your income exceeds the cut off for that element.

I believe Income Support would also not be payable as SMP exceeds applicable amount of IS. (they take into consideration your income penny for penny).

BenefitMaster

You should claim Child Tax Credit for the Birth date, and at that stage apply fr Working Tax Credit as well, backdated 3 months.