1st time on here, wonder if anyone can help with Single mother benefits?

mum2be1981

Hi Everyone,

I have been on having a wee look on here for some help so appologies if this has been asked many times before,

I am 6months pregnant and really confused about what type of benefits I am entiled to. I still live with my parents and have no plans to move out till I go back to work & I would be classed as a single mother. I am going on maternity leave in August which will take me to the Statutory Maternity Pay which isn't that much by the time I pay off my debts. What exactly should I be claiming for/entiled to? Also I am not sure if it is worth my while coming back to work full time or part-time with the cost of child care these days. I am finding it very hard to get my head round all the stuff I need to know.

Thanks in advance.

Sue

Scarlett1

have a look at www.entitledto.co.uk you will most probably entitled to child tax credit and child benefit.

dmg24

Hi Sue,

Welcome to MSE!

There is lots of useful information here. Have a read and let us know if you have any further questions x

mum2be1981

dmg24 wrote: »

Hi Sue,

Welcome to MSE!

There is lots of useful information here. Have a read and let us know if you have any further questions x

Thanks for the replys. I'll have a look at these sites.

x

Lip_Stick

Hi.. Congratulations to you. I'm a single parent and whilst on Maternity Leave (after lo was born) I was entitled to child tax credits and working tax credits. The working tax credits stops when you stop being paid SMP, so that was after 9 months for me. I took a year off work though, so for the last few months I 've had to go on income support (went back to work this week!).

The first £100 of maternity pay isn't counted in working tax credits, so when you get your p60 next year, you need to take off £100 for every week you are getting paid maternity pay. I ended up with a lump sum of nearly £700! :j

Of course you'll get child benefit too. I managed easily. Tax credits combined was about £120, then there was CB and SMP so money wasn't a problem. It hasn't been on income support really either as now I've had my p60 they've reassessed things and I'm getting nearly £75 for CTC. I've no debts though so maybe that's why I'm finding it easier, plus that lump sum from WTC has helped. I've a feeling though that at the end of this month my pay from work will be arriving just in time considering how much I enjoy spending on the little one lol.

When I found out I was pregnant I was really worried about finances and didn't think I would be able to manage but everything's great. Am going back two days a week and getting more in a month that what I was earning full time when it was just me.

Edit - You should also be able to claim for the Sure Start maternity grant, once the baby is born and you are getting the tax credits. This is a grant for £500. Also, if you go on income support later on in your maternity leave, you can apply for healthy start vouchers (can't get them if getting WTC) and these amount to £6 a week. You can get fruit, veg and formula with those. Hope that all helps!

Elle00

mum2be1981 wrote: »

Hi Everyone,

I have been on having a wee look on here for some help so appologies if this has been asked many times before,

I am 6months pregnant and really confused about what type of benefits I am entiled to. I still live with my parents and have no plans to move out till I go back to work & I would be classed as a single mother. I am going on maternity leave in August which will take me to the Statutory Maternity Pay which isn't that much by the time I pay off my debts. What exactly should I be claiming for/entiled to? Also I am not sure if it is worth my while coming back to work full time or part-time with the cost of child care these days. I am finding it very hard to get my head round all the stuff I need to know.

Thanks in advance.

Sue

Loads of great advice from Lip_Stick there.

I just wanted to add my own experience of working in case it helps in any way:

You get help with childcare costs if you're on a low income (earn less than around £15kpa and you get 80% paid for you, the percentage decreases as your earnings go up). I still found the 20% a big chunk of my income though.

When you work part-time (16 - 30hrs a week) you're supposed to be £40 a week better off than when you're on Income Support. I found that after childcare costs, I was £26 a week better off for a 16hr working week on minimum wage. When you work full-time (30hrs+) you're supposed to be about £70 a week better off than when you're on Income Support, but I found that after childcare costs and work-related costs (commuting etc) I was only £17 a week better off for a £7.50ph job and an emotional wreck too.

But, I now live in a social rented house. So if I worked full time now, I'd be £250 a month better off due to my low rent (but still an emotional wreck!). You say you live with your parents, well if they're charging you less than it would cost you to rent privately, you too would be considerably better off each month by going out to work despite childcare costs; most wages go on housing costs after all and the biggest Income Support related benefits are for housing and council tax. Perhaps your parents would be able to help in childcare emergencies too? And supply emotional support?

I think it's also important to consider the long term implications of not working and how your CV would look. Living on benefits is by no means the easy option given the pittance you're expected to live on! Plus it's only a short-term solution, we all have to go back to work just as soon as our children are no longer totally dependant on us.

If you want good solid advice about what you're likely to have to live on, post your income and outgoing details for when the baby's born and I'll bet there's someone on these boards who can match your circumstances and tell you approximately what you'd get.

Patrizia

Hi,
My daughter has just seperated from her husband. She will be living with her 2 year old son in a privately rented house. She visited the Income Support people today and to say she was tearful is an understatement!! Having calculated her entitlement they have come up with the ludicrous figure of £51 per week which will need to cover her car loan of £200 per month, food, gas, electric, phone, car insurance, petrol and maintanance oh and the care of her son. My daughter and her husband have come to an agreement for child costs, which they are both happy with but will not contribute to further income for her. She was also hoping to start work, on a relief basis, but apparently this is not going to be worth it.

Pleas, please, please someone help. I feel angry and sad that she will be left in poverty but is unable to work for fear that her income will be even more humiliating!! :mad: :eek:

emsywoo123

Patrizia wrote: »

Hi,
My daughter has just seperated from her husband. She will be living with her 2 year old son in a privately rented house. She visited the Income Support people today and to say she was tearful is an understatement!! Having calculated her entitlement they have come up with the ludicrous figure of £51 per week which will need to cover her car loan of £200 per month, food, gas, electric, phone, car insurance, petrol and maintanance oh and the care of her son. My daughter and her husband have come to an agreement for child costs, which they are both happy with but will not contribute to further income for her. She was also hoping to start work, on a relief basis, but apparently this is not going to be worth it.

Pleas, please, please someone help. I feel angry and sad that she will be left in poverty but is unable to work for fear that her income will be even more humiliating!! :mad: :eek:

hi I have just read your post, and as a single mother I can empathize with the fear and hurt that a relationship breakdown can bring, let alone financial worries!! I have sent you a PM with my figures, hope that helps make sense of things. Let me know if I can help further,
Em x

Savvysal

Hi

I'm a lone parent too

As she is on income support this should trigger other benefits such as housing benefit and council tax benefit (don't forget the single persons rebate!), free precriptions, dental care, help with costs of glasses etc . Given that she is wanting to go to work it will be worthwhile her getting in touch with the New Deal for Lone parents advisors at her local job centre as there are all sorts on grants (non-repayable) that she will be able to access
Hope this helps

And don't forget she will be entitled to child tax credit whislt on income support and working tax credit when she goes back to work - you need to get in touch with the Inland Revenue for this.