Income support, returning to work and Sure Start Maternity Grant!

stargirl73

Hi again.

I recently posted about my "confusing" maternity situation in a previous post - so I'll try not to repeat myself!

As I am currently off work sick and claiming income support, I will be eligible to apply for the Sure Start Maternity Grant 11 weeks before baby is due (that's in about 3 weeks time - eek!)

But, either (or both) my husband or/and I are hoping to return to work within the next month, and when we return to a salaried position - we will no longer be entitled to IS or the Maternity Grant.

Obviously it depends heavily on our return date(s) - but when will the IS stop being paid? And when will I no longer qualify for IS and henceforth the Mat Grant? As is usual - we won't get paid for at least a month after we'd start back at work - these things are usually in arrears as far as I'm aware. So will there be a gap then between income support stopping and wage starting? Or does income support continue to be paid until you receive first pay?

I know it seems a bit money grabbing - but I've been off sick for over three years and my hubby has been off work as my full time carer all that time, so money has been tight, to say the least. The £500 SSMG would help hugely with the essentials that we still need to find (although people have been SO generous and Freecycle has been wonderful !) I know that when we get back to work, money will be less of an issue than it is currently - but nobody wants to turn down a potential handout do they?

So - my questions in a nutshell are:

• Will income support stop the same day that I or husband start work? Or is it still paid until we get first pay?
• If we're still in receipt of IS on the qualifying date for the SSMG (the 11 weeks before the EDD) but then go on to receive a wage a week or two after - will I have to pay the grant back?
• Is it really naughty to put off going back to work by another week or so in order to claim the grant? (Don't answer that - I already know the answer!)

Hope someone can advise or point me in the right direction. I've never claimed income support before so don't really know the returning to work rules.

Many thanks in advance.

tsstss7

Have you thought about applying AFTER the baby is born presumably you won't then be working - you become entitled to the sure start grant provided you recieve higher rate child tax credit.

http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Customers/WorkingAgeBenefits/Dev_013950.xml.html

stargirl73

I don't think we'd be eligible for very much CTC as we'll probably be earning too much.

That's why I thought I should get in before our circumstances change out of all recognition!

Thanks for the advice though.

clairec79

The maternity grant goes on your eligibility when it is paid, if your situation changed a few days later you dont have to pay it back

stargirl73

clairec79 wrote: »

The maternity grant goes on your eligibility when it is paid, if your situation changed a few days later you dont have to pay it back

Well that's good to know! Thanks!