To be really really pissed off with the benefit system?

[Inshock73]

I just want to have a rant really....

I've worked since I was 15 (part time) and full time since I was 18, that's 24 years, I've paid hundreds of thousands in income tax and now find myself with a much wanted first baby at 42 and in a tricky financial position. I was on a contract in my last employment and that was terminated when I went on maternity leave (all legal and above board) and I've been on SMP. My SMP has now stopped so I've enquired as to whether I can get any financial help so I can be at home with her until she's one, which is another four months. Basically no I can't because my partner is considered to be earning enough, he earns the national average. I'm so angry! I know several people who are lying to the benefits agency, living with partners and claiming they're not! How is this benefits system fair? I don't believe you pay in to get out, I'm only looking for help for just a few months until I go back to full time work and start paying income tax again!

Rant over.

No tax credits, nothing?

Now is the time to dip into your savings then.

I need to look into that Beautiful, I've never claimed benefits before so it's all new to me.

I'm guessing it's because you have money in savings.....

As I understand it, you save money that you don't you won't get paid for those few remaining months and then dip in to savings

Many people don't get a year off work maternity leave with benefits

Savings are gone There, they've been topping up my SMP. I naively thought I'd be happy to go back to work when she was six months old, I never expected to want to be at home for a year. But I do.

*that you know you won't get paid

The threshold for tax credits isn't that high.

Plenty of people don't claim them, though plenty of people also assume you do.

I need to look into that Beautiful, I've never claimed benefits before so it's all new to me

Riggghhttttt so you don't actually know whether or not you can them?

You get tax credit whether you have savings or not and with your dh only earning nat min wage you'd get a fair amount I think.
Obviously not a complete wage but it would help.

Benefits aren't there to cover maternity leave, we already have a generous SMP system. Most people have to save if they want the full year off as its a luxury.

Bubble I tried to claim housing and council tax. I've been told to try job seekers allowance.

Many people don't get a year off work maternity leave with benefits

^ this.

Thank you NewLife I'll look in to that.

Most people have to save if they want the full year off as its a luxury.

Yep. We couldn't afford it, so I didn't.

I'm sure u should get some working tax credits?
I don't know much about it as I am a single parent so I haven't had an issue with the benefits system yet but it may be worth heading to citizens advice or something? They will be able to tell u what u are entitled to if anything & 9/10times these things can be back dated x

why haven't you claimed tax credits yet? Is your bloke over the threshold?

nobody gets benefits to stay home beyond their SMP/Maternity pay though. there is no benefit for that, so you are not being unfairly treated compared to others. it wasn't so long ago you only got 16 weeks paid maternity leave, count yourself luckier than people were back then.

He's self employed and has never tried to claim anything either so we really are complete novices at this.

She says her DH earns the national average which is £25/30k depending on which average we are talking about, so I think that is above the TC threshold for 1 DC?

So bloody annoyed now, wish I'd saved more! :(

the average is about 26k, sorry, can you really expect benefits too?

I wanted a year off with DS1. We could only afford mat pay from my employer so i went back after four months. I got a year with DD2 because we saved. Because, you know, we checked it all out before we actually had the baby.

You'd need a very low income to qualify for housing benefit or council tax- below 15,000 a year I should think. You'd be looking at child tax credits and possibly working tax credits once you return towards childcare. You might be entitled to contributions based JSA (don't know how that works post-maternity) but you would have to comply with all their rules about meetings and proving you're jobseeking.

National average salary is £27,000- is that roughly what he earns?

I'm sorry OP but just because you've changed your mind and now want a year instead of 6 months, it's hardly the benefits systems fault!

I am taking 14 months off- I am able to do this as I saved in advance of mat leave starting and budgeting for it, as most people do.

It's horrible leaving your child to return to work, but unless you are in a position to become a SAHP, we have to do it.

Get your DH to apply for tax credits - I believe that the threshold for this as a lone earner is 16k (always used to be when I was on my own before DP) and it might help you out a little bit.

Alternatively, could you change jobs to one in the evenings (supermarket, call centre etc) once DH is home to look after the baby? That way you won't need childcare