To ask you about maternity?

[champagneair]

I work in two zero hour roles, so I'm assuming I'll definitely be eligible for SMP or if not then maternity allowance.

I'm grateful for this help. But realistically it won't be enough to cover all outgoings. I am wondering if any other help is available as I have no partner so maternity pay plus child benefit is it.

Then obviously I will want to go back to work, but am concerned about how to cover childcare costs especially with work that can be variable.

Does anyone have any advice?:)

Sorry op I don't know much about SMP or zero hours contracts but have you checked to see if you will be entitled to tax credits when your baby is born?

It's so difficult to do that as it understandably wants to know your income and mine varies. Thanks for replying :)

Have a look on the tax credits Checker because I'm sure you will be entitled to something x

I've tried, but it's asking for my salary/wages and I can't do that x

Tax credits go on the last tax year so if you have a p60/p45 use the figures from that. Once the claim has been awarded you can ring them and tell them if this tax year is going to be higher/lower and they will adjust accordingly.

But how will I know? Sorry to sound as if I am being difficult! It's so confusing due to having two jobs and I'm really scared of getting an overpayment and then having to pay it back.

You are classed as working whilst on maternity leave so will be entitled to working tax credit. You can also claim child tax credit.

Check your entitlement to housing benefit.

Childcare will be a nightmare if you don't know your hours!

If I were you I'd be looking to up the set hours in your jobs if you can and look for other jobs Asap.

Even with working tax credit money towards childcare you won't be able to afford to pay for extra days you end up not needing.

Most childcare (nurseries/childminders) are only open Monday- Friday 8-6. Places fill up early so start looking & booking now. If your hours are outside this... Family? Ex?

Typical costs are £40/£50 per day. But wtc can cover up to 70% of this, depending on your income.

You have to use the figures for the previous tax year (from your P60). If your income is likely to be vastly different you can give an estimate for the current year. You would be unlikely to get an overpayment whilst on maternity if you use the previous years income because the first £100 per week of smp isn't counted as income for tax credit purposes so it is more likely that you will be underpaid.

Thank you ... I think I'm following you but I just want to check.

The p60 for 2014 would be very very different for 2015. So would I have to give an estimate? Or have I got the wrong years?

I don't have any set hours Jackie - this is what is so difficult but thank you. I won't need to claim housing benefit, it's just the 'day to day' stuff - bills and food and so on.

Tax year runs from April-April op

So April 2014-April 2015

If your income is going to be very different then it's best to give them your actual income for 2014/15 and an estimate for 15/16 but dont forget to deduct the first £100 per week of smp from your estimate as that doesn't count as income for tax credit purposes.

I realise it is a zero hours contract but do you work roughly the same amount of hours each week? Or us it wildly different e.g. 10 hours one week and 30 the next?

Sorry my last post sounds really patronising...its not meant to be!

Yeah widely different - I don't know how to to this

• housing benefit
• council tax reduction
• working tax / child tax credits
• child benefit

Plus your smp / ma

I only need CTC :) and I'm not sure how to get them due to variable income!

Do you have a p60? You should have just received one in April with your wage slip?

If so then use that figure to find out what you're entiltled to claim. Just using that figure online doesn't mean that you have to use that figure when you claim but at least then you will know what kind of benefits you can get.nif you have 2 x p60 add them together.

Once you actually claim I'm sure you can ring them up for advice, you won't be the first on zero hour contracts.

Thanks, will try to do that :)

The problem is my income is high but obviously that won't continue when I go on ML

It seems I'm only entitled to tax credits and cb of £80 a week in total.

Remember to claim a tax rebate next April as you will have paid more over the year than you needed to because of maternity pay.

Thank you :)

So I'll get approx £155 from maternity and CB a week is that right? And that's for 9 months? Best get saving

and your tax credits