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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask when you went back to work after giving birth

39 replies

Forevertired19 · 23/03/2018 20:32

Long story short, I'm really struggling for money. Can't claim SMP and can't get mat allowance due to DP's income based jsa claim. Can't claim certain benefits so £640 a month isn't enough for me to live on. I'm kicking dp (well.. Ex dp, I don't know the abbreviation for dcs dad so it's just easier to say dp) out. He's only here again to help me whilst I'm in ill health and for ds birth next week. But even so I won't have enough to live on.

Apparently I can return to work two weeks after the birth and whilst I'm more likely to get a job than dcs dad even if we did stay together, something needs to happen soon.
So I'm still employed but I want to get a full time job to support my dcs. I feel right now I've failed my dd as I can't even afford a small birthday present for her. An I've considered and posted a thread about giving ds up for adoption but I can't do it. He's my boy. (If people recognise that by the way, thank you for your help. Unfortunately I won't get much help regardless. I went back to cab today)
So if I'm employed but getting nothing from them, could I quit and get a new job??
How did you cope with a newborn once you went back to work? They will be shared between myself, my mom and their dad.
Is two weeks really the earliest I can go back after the birth?
Thanks

OP posts:
user1471459936 · 23/03/2018 22:04

Does your mum work? Can your dad let you stay rent free for a while? The children's father needs to find work!

Forevertired19 · 23/03/2018 22:06

My mom doesn't work and my stepdad keeps her really comfortable and my dad is in too much money trouble to let me. But I need to pay anyway. He does but he won't. He's trying to but really, if we are being honest, there's no Insentive. He's helping me now but his main concerns are the babies and gaming.

OP posts:
QforCucumber · 23/03/2018 22:06

You should also be eligible for a reduction in council tax, and income support if he wasn't living there and you didn't have a job.

MotherforkingShirtballs · 23/03/2018 22:50

You need to get some professional advice on the debts and on whatever payments you're behind on, you also need to look at negotiating your repayments so that they're at a realistic level that doesn't leave you struggling to eat.

I suggest contacting capuk.org - Christians Against Poverty. You don't have to be a Christian, they won't try recruit you into some sort of God Army or ask you to sing hymns or anything but they do offer debt counseling and they can negotiate realistic payment terms with creditors. You pay your repayments into your CAP plan and they pay it to your creditors. They will also help you work out a budget based on your income and expenditure, and they can check you are claiming everything that you are entitled to. I highly recommend them having seen them help a family member out of crippling debt without judgement or shame.

MyDcAreMarvel · 23/03/2018 22:57

If your dp leaves you will have £1291 a month plus your rent paid.
£140 MA £124 TC and £34 CB a week plus HB.

Pippa12 · 23/03/2018 23:03

Have you considered contacted step change in relation to your unsecured debts?

Bumbumtaloo · 24/03/2018 08:19

Sorry, I may be confused here but won’t your child benefit raise to £137.70 once you have two children (that’s what mine is for two) and I would assume your child tax credits would to. As there will be a significant drop in your income - more than £2,500 (I assume) you can advise them what your estimated earnings would be and that should increase your tax credits. That should give you more money coming in.

underneaththeash · 24/03/2018 08:25

For a start, your dad could just get a tenancy agreement pack from WHSmith, it doesn't need to be drawn up by a solicitor.

underneaththeash · 24/03/2018 08:26

I think the post office sell them as well.

Forevertired19 · 24/03/2018 09:08

I'll pick up the tenancy pack today if the post office do them. My dad certainly won't help me out an pick one up. We have never had an income monthly of 2,500. Ever. I wish aha! Apparently at the moment by law £161 a week is 'enough to live on'. From the letter this morning. Child benefits etc wouldn't even cover half my bills regardless. But that money is for formula etc for my babies. I was informed because dp lost his job back in January that my tax credits would stop. I'm getting x amount from child tax credits but still not enough for me to live on with my bills. Rent is 550 for example, council tax, I still have to pay a lot even with a reduction as I keep emailing them) food (which is.. £20 a week for me and dp if that. The rest is formula and nappies so that adds up, which is fine)
Gas and electric, insurance, debt and other expenses (like the drains I had to sort out and pay for).

OP posts:
Coastalcommand · 24/03/2018 09:26

Nappies and formula can be expensive. Some areas have grants for free reusable nappies and I’ve found breastfeeding much cheaper. Obviously completely your choice, but it might help?

LynetteScavo · 24/03/2018 09:55

Sorry if I've missed something, but are you still paying your Dad rent? Stop paying that, and then he'll be pushed to either give you a proper tenancy agreement or end it, and make you homeless.

Bumbumtaloo · 24/03/2018 11:36

Sorry I meant £2,500 difference in a year.

Forevertired19 · 24/03/2018 13:27

Shocked ladies. My dad has actually wrote me a letter and bought the tenancy pack for me to send off Monday. So happy. I do really want to try and breastfeed. I couldn't with my daughter past 5 weeks because people wouldn't leave me alone and I had ppd and felt really uncomfortable. This time I've put a month ban on people visiting who aren't my mom and stepdad

OP posts:
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