Am I entitled to any money this pregnancy? Sil says I am

[princessmel]

I am confused.

During my last 2 prenancys I was employed so I got smp.

I was made redundant in september so this time I will not get smp.

If I had got pregnant sooner after being made redundant I would be entitled to Maternity allowance, but afaik I do fall into this category. I needed to be employed during a set of qualifying weeks.

Then my sil said I might be entitled to a sure start grant. I don't get any benefits at the moment.

Can anyone help? Tia.

[slushy06]

I don't work my dp does and we are hoping to get a sure start mat grant. Your child tax credit award has to be higher than the fanily element I think it about 600 a year. On my last pg I was told I needed to have worked 26 weeks between 6 months months before getting pg and 5 months of pg to be entiteled.

[slushy06]

For maternity allowance that is.

[princessmel]

Yes that sounds right re the MA. I am just out of that criteria.

I'll ask dh about our child tax credit amount.

Thanks

[MustHaveaVeryShortMemory]

This is the rule

"have been employed in at least 26 weeks out of the 66 week period running into the week before the week your baby is due"

What is your due date?

[princessmel]

I am not due till Oct 22nd and was made redundant in sept. Nothing for me!!! sob

[VJaybigpants]

Have a look at the direct.gov website, I found that to be very helpful.

[princessmel]

www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchil dren/DG_10018854

I think it will dpend on how much Child tax credit we get. Spoke to dh and he is sure it's under £600.

[PlumBumMum]

Hi princessmal glad you are well, its crap isn't it
I left work after having dc 1, I work for dh but get paid under the taxable income and never got anything for dc2 & 3,
hardly seems fair, unless there is something I didn't know about

[princessmel]

Hi PBM

I have my 20 week scan on thursday!!

I know, It's a bit pants. We don't have a huge income but apparantly it's too much to claim anything.

I wan't someone to say 'hey don't forget about XYZ'

Oh and I do know about the £190 thingy. At least that's something. We didn't get that with dd and ds.

[PlumBumMum]

OMG its flying in, good luck are you going to find out what your having? Or just get a surprise!
I know we're the same, but unfortunately nobody listens!

[princessmel]

They don't tell you the sex at our hospital.

Dd was such a huge surprise that I'm glad we didn't know in the end.

[MustHaveaVeryShortMemory]

oh no.... So close as well.

[MustHaveaVeryShortMemory]

Unless you go and get a job earning a min of £123.06 a week for the next 3 months...

[littleducks]

might be worth applying for the sure start grant i know people who werent expevting it to receive partial payments, also if you dont receive the high rate child tax credit now, apply after the baby is born and your tax credits reassesed

there is also a health in preg grant now, that might help (only a bit but every penny counts)

[princessmel]

Thanks everyone.

I can't get a job as have no child care for dd. Unless I work evenings....thought fills me with dread.

I will try applying after incase my tax credits change.

[RFCMummy]

if you have worked some weeks in the qualifying period from your last job and were earning over a certain amount (check the direct gov website)then you can get a job now that pays £30 a week to make up the other weeks. You get to pick which 13 weeks I think it is they base your allowance on so pick the highest earning ones.

I am about 4 weeks out of qualifying so have got round this by registering myself as self employed and paying class 2 NI contributions amounting to about £10.30 a month. This way I have enough weeks to qualify for MA and will choose 13 weeks from my last job for which to base my allowance on.