Housing benefit on mat leave - please help

[Jenjen86]

Hello, this is a bit of a tough post to put up so would appreciate just helpful answers rather than opinions on my personal circumstances as I know it can be an emotive topic..
I am due next week but unfortunately my boyfriend has to attend court mid February for some.allegations made by his ex (which I am in no doubt are not true,please just trust me on this and again do not judge our situation as there are many facts which are too detailed to go into here). Obviously there is always a risk that the jury will not believe him as these allegations can be hard to prove either way. It's been a very difficult and stressful pregnancy as a result of this and I have been struggling to cope with the idea of potentially losing my partner just days after giving birth. We did not find out about this until after I was pregnant and I am now on maternity leave and will be going down to statutory mat pay next month. If my partner is still with me and cleared of charges we will be fine financially but if he is given a custodial sentence I genuinely have no idea how I will manage as even on my salary I cannot afford the rent and bills and childcare costs alone. As well as the trauma of losing the man that I love and becoming a single parent I will also be unable to cope financially.
The question I have is, would I be able to claim housing benefit while claiming maternity pay? Or would they say I am not eligible because I have a job? It would help tremendously to know this as I can scrape by if I am entitled to housing benefit.
If anyone has any other suggestions on how to get by on low incomes as a single parent please let me know,I am.grateful for any help and advice

[AuditAngel]

I didn't think having a job precluded you from claiming housing benefit (but I don't know)

[hownottofuckup]

I am currently on ML and claiming HB. Give your local council a call on Monday morning and in the mean time have a look on the Gingerbread website, you should find some helpful advice on there.

[FatimaShitbread]

I got housing benefit whilst I was pregnant and also whilst I was working. There were no intimidating questions. Just a form to fill in and a brief chat. Make sure you have evidence of your earnings and you're bank statements (originals) as this delayed my claim by not having them. I don't receive paper statements, so if you don't, it might few wise to drop your bank a call to ask them to send some out to you. Good luck and try to relax. Not everything is set in stone for you yet

[Jenjen86]

Thank you that is really reassuring to know, I will call them Monday and get some advice, thanks so much for posting x

[unimaginativename13]

It's based on your earnings, so you have to put in a claim based on your previous earnings.

Usually from tax year 14/15 then 15/16 which can't be done until end of tax year.

Not sure how it works if s partner is imprisioned as they usually take into account his earnings too.

You can put in a claim now based on previous earnings then send in the updated one when your circumstances change.

You will get child benefit then can apply for tax credits.

[Crumbles12]

I was made redundant just before mat leave and we were entitled to a little HB despite DP working until I could get a job, it is just based on your income and how many dependants you have, how much the rent is etc. There is an online checker you could google and type in your details as to what it would be if you were put in that situation to get an idea of what you would be entitled to.

[Happydappy99]

I work and I was getting HB up until recently. You'll need your payslips, bank statements and tenancy agreement. Our council are processing new claims within a week at the moment so you shouldn't have to wait too long.

[unimaginativename13]

Did you all tell your landlords you were now in receipt of HB?

[Lurkedforever1]

HB is based on income alone, maternity pay is just treated like a low wage. But just to warn you, it's calculated based on local housing allowance, not your actual rent. So eg if your local housing allowance is £100per week, and they judge you can pay £25 of that from your income, they'll pay £75 per week. Even if your rent is £200 per week in the cheapest rental you can find. There are discretionary payments you can apply for to make up the difference, but they are hit and miss and short term at the best. Look up your local councils hb page, and lha. Also tax credits once the baby is born.

[Lurkedforever1]

None of the lls business. You only have to disclose it if you're applying for a tenancy because otherwise your income doesn't match up with rental.

[Crumbles12]

unimaginative I don't think the landlord would be too bothered to be honest aslong as they are being paid! And I don't think you have any obligation to as the money is paid directly into your account so LL would be none the wiser.

[rocket74]

I claimed housing benefit whilst on maternity leave as also renting. Never mentioned it to landlord either. There are boxes about partners to tick including partner being in custody. Don't worry you will get it I'm sure.

[unimaginativename13]

I'm sure I read somewhere that it affects insurance or mortgage?

[imwithspud]

You can claim HB whilst working, it just depends on your income (this includes any tax credits or child benefit etc). Here you can apply online and then send any documents they need through the post which I found the easiest way to do it but it might vary from council to council.

Wouldn't inform the landlord personally, especially if it's only going to be temporary. I doubt they'd be too bothered as long as they get their rent, well non of my landlords have been bothered anyway.

[Lurkedforever1]

Doesn't effect mortgage or insurance. That's just bull, and trotted out as a party line as to why it's ok for lls to discriminate against hb.

[unimaginativename13]

Just did my application online and there's a question about partners being in prison and you being on mat leave ...Good luck xx