To ask what benefits I'm entitled to?

[GlitterGoddess]

Hi all, pregnant with first child, will soon be on mat leave, partner is a full time worker and we own our own home. I would like to stay on mat leave as long as possible (as quite frankly I don't earn enough to merit going back to work and paying for childcare)

So, what benefits am I entitled to help us? I'm not glued up with it all as ive never claimed any kind of benefit before!
Thanks

No you're not entitled to anything other than child benefit.

And this is why Britain is in mountains of debt.

Kidding me?! im on less than half that and alone funding a house.... i dont expect to get "tax back"...and ive worked solid for 15+ years!!

I get child benefit. thats it.

And I don't mean benefits as in hundreds of pounds, I was merely talking about child tax/benefit which I've heard about but never looked into before now. I'm not stupid enough to expect a great deal will be given to me, even if it is £20 a month, every little helps

At 30k basic, nothing. Before promotion husband earned 26k and we were just about entitled with 2 kids and my mat pay. The thresholds arent high and tbh it's a pain with OT as you'd end up owing them.

He'll? Sorry, what is it you need 'help' with, exactly??

You're not entitled to tax credits if that's what you mean. Cut off is below 30k

Is this a joke ?

You may get child benefit as long as one of you doesn't exceed 60k in income. After 50k it will taper off.

Apply for child benefit even if the higher earner earns over £50k as you will still get the payment and then a proportion will be paid back by the higher earner doing a self assessment tax return. It's only when wages go over £60k that all the money would have to be paid back.

Even if wages are over £60k then you can still claim but opt out of payment and that protects the non working person's National Insurance credits while the youngest child is under the age of 12.

We've both paid enough tax the past 15 years to claim some back if it helps us live a bit more comfortably for a while

And how much are you costing the state for your pregnancy health care? Who will be paying for your child’s education, the state?

No way you have paid in enough to even begin to cover those expenses.

was merely talking about child tax/benefit which I've heard about but never looked into before now

so you have been working enough to pay tax for 15 years, which means you must be at least....33 (15 + 18) and you dont know anything about child benefit (or how to use google? )

I think you could have found out answers for yourself via your favourite search engine. Especially with a work history of 15+ years. You're bound to have encountered search engines via there?

We've both paid enough tax the past 15 years to claim some back if it helps us live a bit more comfortably for a while

I'm fairly sure this is a wind up. However just for the lurkers... unless you are earning significantly more than you are, there's no chance you're 'owed'. Your baby for example... will need delivered, that's at least a few thousand, educated, GP, vaccinations, midwife, doctors, health visitors. That's if you don't have a child with any additional needs. Then you'll need even more. You'll take them to the library on roads, with police making sure you're safe. Go to a and e a few times for head bumps... you're a constant drain

I'm sure the cut off us about 26k if 1 is working.

Are you serious?!

I've just gone on entitledto (to make sure I'm not nuts!) and did a 'dummy run' based on you having a 6 month old, partners earnings of £30k and you (rightly) get nothing! Except child benefit which has quite a high threshold.

You can AS if you like but you'll find I'm among the most socialist/leftist left wingers on mn and even I'm thinking you're a cf!

A - benefits are for those genuinely struggling which you are not

B - did you even think even cursorily about money BEFORE getting pregnant? I'm all for supporting families when things go belly up but have to say that I agree that couples should not PLAN to have DC if at that point they cannot afford them without claiming benefits intended for those struggling.

C - your comment that "I don't earn enough to merit going back to work and paying for childcare)"

Geez

i - you should have properly considered this before ttc

ii - it's not just YOUR wage that is included here - your partner is also 50% responsible for the costs of childcare when you BOTH work

iii as you're not married you would be mad to take too long out of work. You lose momentum in your career progression, lose pension contributions, promotion opportunities etc.

If you and your partner were to split (and the odds are quite high) IF your partner plays fair you'd get (based on £30k, usual contact arrangements of eow) £59 pw £255 pm child maintenance. It sounds like he is self employed/commission based earnings and so that makes it easier for him to fudge it so he could keep it to a minimum. Are you named as an owner of the house?

Why do you think you SHOULD be entitled to benefits?

"We've both paid enough tax the past 15 years to claim some back if it helps us live a bit more comfortably for a while" journalist? GF? Benefits aren't for people to "live a bit more comfortably" they're for people to survive! Downright offensive when there's many on these boards GENUINELY struggling using food banks etc

FYI - we ALL pay taxes! On utilities, food, clothes...

How old are you? How long have you been working?

"And how much are you costing the state for your pregnancy health care? Who will be paying for your child’s education, the state?" This too! Also roads, street lighting, libraries, dentists, policing, councillors, fire services, civil servants (tax men, municipal workers) etc etc

"We've both paid enough tax the past 15 years to claim some back" 😂😂😂trust me you REALLY haven't!

We've both paid enough tax the past 15 years to claim some back if it helps us live a bit more comfortably for a while

...errm it’s not a savings account. I take it you will be having your baby on the nhs and they’ll go to state school...

And this is why Britain is in mountains of debt.

No it really isn’t, but it’s what the Daily Mail and the likes of Rees-Mogg would like you to believe.

As a PP said, you can't just claim your money back now that you want to give up work for a baby!
I think this must be a wind up. Benefits are for people struggling not for people who can potentially earn 50k a year...and no matter how much tax you may have paid in tax, doesn't mean you can ask for a chunk back now you've a baby on the way!

By benefits I’m sure she was simply asking about child benefit and the benefit of free 15/30 hours childcare etc. Which she will be entitled too at some point. Blimey.

Recluse - absolutely!

Benefits claimants are NOT to blame for the uks failing economy they are the VICTIMS of it!

Benefits have been cut to the bone and are STILL being cut, people are LITERALLY DYING as a result (several news reports on this and the cover ups this week alone).

It is NOT easy to claim benefits - even if you have been sick/disabled for many years and are in no way/shape or form able to work. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying/ignorant/delusional! They are not 'just handed out'.

It's the rich (especially bankers) who fucked the economy - world wide! Compounded by short sighted protectionist Tory policy created and implemented by people who have NEVER known a moments poverty in their entire lives! Who were born into EXTREMELY wealthy families, sent to private schools and then usually gone to Oxbridge to do PPE degrees, never TRULY worked a day in their lives, never had to decide "do I eat so I can work or do I make sure my child eats?" "Do I feed the meter or go to bed early wearing 2 layers of clothes to stay warm?" "Do I risk a disciplinary at work by wearing incorrect uniform or replace my child's well worn shoes that they have outgrown"

Sorry soapbox moment but it PISSES ME OFF!

I agree with you Gaphista, i am lucky enough to be in a job where i am paid quite well, doing something i enjoy, i have nightmares about not being able to work and having to try and claim/live on the pittance you get

its not a holiday in Maui

You will be entitled to maternity pay, statutory amounts unless you have a maternity clause in your contract of employment . Most people live on that as their ‘salary ‘ until they return to work.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jan/16/why-does-it-cost-32093-just-to-give-birth-in-america

A straightforward vaginal delivery in US costs $32k. That's not including pre and post care.

I think you're getting your money's worth of taxes paid.

Nothing really. I am a single parent in £33000 and entitled to feck all.