Still seeking advice on benefits...

starlite_2

I appear to be in an impossible situation, and have sought advice from the CAB and a free legal advice service, but have been told I am entitled to absolutely nothing.
I am 34 weeks pregnant, haven't worked since last summer as I was a full time student, and then couldn't find a job upon leaving uni as I was pregnant.
Therefore I have no employer to get maternity pay from, and am not entitled to maternity allowance as I haven't worked in the qualifying period.
I have been refused income support as my boyfriend works, but he earns less than £11'000 before tax and we live in London so just cannot get by with this wage.
I obviously cannot get jsa either as I am not seeking work at the moment.We are not old enough to claim WTC, though I understand we will get CTC but cannot apply until the baby is born.
I have been told I can get incapacity benefit for the two weeks after the baby is born, but this hardly amounts to much either.
Due to all of this I am also not entitled to the 'surestart' grant , even though I am in greater need than those recieving IS etc.
Our options have really run dry. We can no longer rent out our spare room which we had been relying on to boost our income, as we will soon have a newborn baby in the house. I have been relying on the generosity of my parents but they are not particularly well off, and I cannot ask for more help from them.
Let alone not being able to afford general living expenses we now need to get a pram, cot and all the other baby esentials but there is just no way we can afford to.
I find it hard to believe that i am not entitled to any help whatsoever, but it seems I have exhausted all the possibilities.
Does anyone have any moe ideas or advice?

kerryallc71

have you tried phoneing up the child tax credit help line. i wonder if you would be still entitled to working tax credit untill your new baby is born. you will beable to claim sure start as soon as you claim for child tax credit and because your partners income is so low you should most defentley get the family element you need to claim the £500.00 off sure start. also you will get £17.00 per week family allowance when baby born. visit( entitled to .com). that should beable to help you to see if you can claim working tax credit before your little one is born.also you have untill your new born is 3 months old to put in a claim for the sure start maternity grant. im 34 weeks pregnant as well. my baby is due 14th of november. i wish i could help you. i hope there will be help for out there. oh another website to try is (low incomes tax reform group - tax help - low income earners) that should tell you all you need to know about tax credits and other stuff like that.
also visit the inland revenue website and the dwp benefits website as well.

good luck i hope ive helped a little.

see you from kerry.

elona

Have you asked if there is a social worker at the ante natal clinic.

When I was giving away some baby stuff as we were moving away I gave it to the Health visitor to pass on to the centre that dealt with it.

starlite_2

Thanks..we cannot claim WTC yet, as you have to be over 25 I believe. I am sure we will recieve benefits after the baby is born, but it doesn't help in the meantime, and I am expecting a wait of at least a few weeks even when we can put in our claim.
it's very difficult, i am struggling to be able to afford a decent diet, even though we shop at local markets and buy things on offer etc. Then of course there is lots to buy for the baby.
I have asked about getting free or reduced things at our local centre, but you have to prove recipet of benefits to be eligible! argh!

kerryallc71

hih starlite. ive just tried entitled to .com and typed in your wage being £11,000.00 ive put in 30 hours or more im not sure if its right. and its come up as £1,737.70 but this is from april to april. i would give the tax credit help line a call. you may just get working tax credit. then when your little ones been born you can add her or him to it and you will get even more ( working tax credit and child tax credit on top) and you should get free precriptions and free baby milk as well. plus the sure start and family benefit on top which is £17.00 per week.

hope this helps.

thankyou from kerry.

kerryallc71

oh im sorry about that i thought you had to be over 16 yrs old to claim working tax credit and child tax credit.
i hope you get the help you need.

i just wish there was something i could do to help you.


from kerry.

starlite_2

Aw,thanks for trying anyway!
It just seems ridiculous that I cannot claim anything at all..but I guess I might have to grin and bear it..

kerryallc71

i know it sounds completely silly your partner can work and pay his tax's but he cannot claim working tax credit it sounds to silly for words.

see you from kerry.

CIS

You might be eligible for JSA paid under hardship rules ?, its worth a try.

http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/cms.asp?Page=/Home/Customers/WorkingAgeBenefits/497#hardship

starlite_2

oooh wow..looks good! wonder why I haven't been informed of this before (though of course the job centre are very reluctant to tell you how you can get money from them!)
i'll call now and enquire..thanks so much

starlite_2

One other thing..if I am accepted under those rules do you think i can get the surestart grant right away too?
Just the thought of it is a weight of my chest..we could finally get a pram and cot and hopefully cover the massive shortfall in our income/ mortgage payment ratio this month.