Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

to want to find out if i can claim any sort of maternity benefits, i am a sahm, have been for 3 years, eldest at school now, been looking for a job, but no luck so far

68 replies

gingercatpaws · 31/10/2011 17:05

i am looking for a job, but could be tricky now i'm pg.

been at sahm for about 3 years now and eldest child is now at school.

dh does earn quite alot, around 40k but we do have high bills, so if i could find some sort of casual work or even claim any sort of maternity allowance that would really help.

OP posts:

AVoidkaTheKillerZombies · 31/10/2011 18:04

That isnt true Nailak - she wont be entitled to IS or healthy start.

wigglesrock · 31/10/2011 18:09

Why would she get Income Support? - I don't due to the fact that my husband works more than 16 hours a week, same as healthy start. My husband is on a good wage, nowhere near as good as OPs and I get CB and about £60 a month tax credits.

Original poster

gingercatpaws · 31/10/2011 18:23

i think a self employed thing would be best, as even if i did find a job, if it was a tempjob and teh work ran out after 25 weeks, it would be pretty gutting

OP posts:

Original poster

gingercatpaws · 31/10/2011 18:24

i think cleaning/ironing would be the easiest thing to do for a few months. maybe even dog walking, i would enjoy that alot more

OP posts:

Janiston · 31/10/2011 18:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

scarevola · 31/10/2011 18:32

gingercatspaws: here's a link to the HMRC page which tells you how to register as self-employed.

Original poster

gingercatpaws · 31/10/2011 18:43

think i'm going to register as self employed and start a cleaning, ironing and dog walking round.

if i manage to get a first few customers that are family and friends, will that be considered ok?

OP posts:

Northernlurker · 31/10/2011 19:00

I think your best bet is to stop working out how you can rig things to get benefits that your work history does not in fact justify but rather work as effectively as possible to build up your business before your baby is born so you can carry it on.
This is going to sound harsh but I'm a working mother and I am not working full time to pay tax that you then claim back as maternity allowance, having cobbled together enough relatives and friends business to give the appearence of a qualifying wage. Either build a business properly or accept that you are NOT entitled to maternity benefits at this point.

Good luck with the pregnancy - hope everything goes well and DON'T work yourself to death with casual work either.

Dartfordmummy · 31/10/2011 19:08

I agree with Northernlurker!!

nailak · 31/10/2011 19:15

ok sorry i didnt read op properly, but i dont get the issue then tbh, if her husband is earning 40k, then why would she need maternity allowance?

im sure she can manage, and try and cut down on outgoings, or sell stuff on ebay whatever

KatAndKit · 31/10/2011 19:19

My partner earns reasonably well but I will still be claiming MA.
I have been working almost solidly for the last 10 years and those few weeks of unemployment after my last job, and doing temping since, are the only reasons I can't claim SMP. I'd be furious if I was told I wasn't entitled to any maternity pay because of my partner's wages. It isn't a means tested benefit, it is based on your previous earnings.
You wouldn't tell a woman she shouldn't get SMP because of her husband's income would you?

However, in this case I think the OP is unlikely to be able to get very far with claiming MA anyway and is highly unlikely to be able to get any amount that will make it worth her while.

Original poster

gingercatpaws · 31/10/2011 19:19

i'm not trying to rig anything!

i've already said i've been looking for work before i even got pg.

there's no way i'd carry on a cleaning business with a newborn and other dc to consider.

i'm just trying to earn as much as possible while i can.

and there is nothing wrong with that.

OP posts:

CheekyChoppers · 31/10/2011 19:25

I'm not sure this is right, but I thought you had to work for 26 consecutive weeks before the 15th week of the expected date of confinement before any MA can be claimed from an employer.

staylucky · 31/10/2011 19:27

I'm in a similar position was made redundant at the time of starting maternity for my DS (now 2). I should have signed on when I was made redundant but didn't know. I was signing on for few months this year as was told initially that I had to for 6 months to be entitled to jsa eventually. Then a couple of weeks ago was told still won't fall into any of the right categories. I'm basically in a black hole as far as recieving any help.
My DP earns 20k and yes our bills are high too, his wage pays bills and food we have no extra left over. Also PG (quite visably so) so will have no hope of finding work anytime soon.

I was suprised that I wasn't able to ask for help but tbh we just make do. We have cut outgoings to the bare minimum, shop wisely, accept gratefully clothes for our children from family and friends and count our blessings that our DC having a sahm seems to be worth the sacrifice.

GOD knows if we'll be feeling quite so chipper when number 3 comes along

FairyMum · 31/10/2011 19:28

of course it is something wrong when from reading your posts it looks like you are more interested in the money you can claim after you had the baby than the actual job. It is also wrong to take a job which is not just temporary knowing you are only planning to stay for a few months unless you of course you declare your intentions in the interview.

hairylights · 31/10/2011 19:29

Yabvu to think you are possibly eligible for maternity benefits whe you haven't worked for three years as you chose to be a sahp. Benefits are not there for those who choose not to work (ie become a sahp).

Original poster

gingercatpaws · 31/10/2011 19:31

lots of people only go to work for the money.

OP posts:

Original poster

gingercatpaws · 31/10/2011 19:32

and if i do get any interviews, i will not be telling them i am pregnant, certainly not.

OP posts:

timidviper · 31/10/2011 19:38

Am also with Northernlurker. These allowances are paid by the taxpayer and it sounds as though you are just trying to find ways to claim benefit rather than to earn your own money.

I would sooner my taxes go to fund people who work and that maternity leaves in genuine need due to a reduced income than someone with a well paid husband looking to claim something extra

KatAndKit · 31/10/2011 19:40

That's your right not to tell them you are pregnant. The law is on your side with that one. If you intend to return to work then fair enough, look for a permanent job, you should be treated just the same as anyone else in the selection process. But if you don't intend to return to work after maternity leave I think you really would be better off working out how you can manage with the money you already have coming in.

The 26 consequetive weeks by 15 weeks before the due date is the rule for claiming SMP from your employer. Maternity Allowance is a benefit for women who miss out on SMP, either because they are temps or because they have had a period of unemployment, but they still have enough recent employment to qualify.

I can't get SMP because I left a job when I moved out of the area. I had a few weeks off and have been supply teaching ever since. I also had six weeks out of work in the holidays. But as I have been paying NI contributions since the year dot with only about 9 weeks out of work, I am still entitled to have some maternity leave. That's what Maternity Allowance is for.

Northernlurker · 31/10/2011 19:40

Of course people go to work for the money but they don't go to work so they can claim a work based benefit when they stop work in a clearly defined timescale.

Op I feel for you, I really do but the options are limited when you are already pregnant. By all means earn what you can now but bottom line is that you are not somebody who has been working recently and for whatever reason is not entitled to SMP. You want to claim a work based benefit without having been in work. Now you are saying you will start a business with no intention of it being properly established and continuing.

Original poster

gingercatpaws · 31/10/2011 19:42

i said right from the op, i've been looking for work, before i even got pg.
i am more than happy to earn it, even doing something i don't enjoy

plus i worked ft for 15 years before starting a family.
and dh has work ft for about 20 years.
so trust me, we certainly pay alot in.
more than alot of people.

dh has a promotion lined up, and if that pans out, i won't really need to look for anything, but it would be nice to all the same.

OP posts:

Original poster

gingercatpaws · 31/10/2011 19:45

oh, that was why i was looking for work before then was it

before i even found out i was pg.

yeah right.

OP posts:

xyz2011 · 31/10/2011 19:46

however the 26 week period has to be covered in the 66 week up to where the MA should start..
26 week being the test period...someone clarify this for me? thx

NickNacks · 31/10/2011 19:46

CheekyChoppers is right (well from when I claimed MA due to being SE twelve months ago). It's to stop people doing exactly this!

I don't understand why you suddenly need to bring in an income when you've been a SAHM for three years and must be comfortable enough to afford and plan a new child.

Flip

1 2 3

Swipe left for the next trending thread