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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for advice regarding claiming benefits?

134 replies

5iveGoldRings · 14/12/2018 13:23

I’ll give the bare bones to make it shorter but happy to answer additional questions.

Been with DP 4 years.
We have 1 Ds and I’m 18 weeks pregnant.

We’ve never lived together - we live in the same street (it’s how we met) but have not blended families. This works very well for us. We both have 2 dc from previous relationships that live with us.

I started a new job just before I found out I was pregnant. Was told yesterday (a week after telling my boss) that I haven’t passed probation and they’ve let me go.

I don’t know what to do. I’m obviously pregnant by looking and am worried that I won’t find another job. I’ve enquired to join up with a few agencies but I live in quite a rural area and the only thing they can offer me at the moment is care work, which I’d be willing to do if it wasn’t for my SPD.

I’ve looked into it and I can claim maternity allowance from 29 weeks pregnant but that doesn’t help me in the meantime. I have some savings which were to supplement my wages whilst on maternity leave but it’s not nearly enough to cover all outgoings.
I can’t claim UC as I have more than 2 children.

What I’m worried about is if I put in a claim for JSA, housing benefit and tax credits would I be eligible or would they expect DP to be supporting me? His income is not enough to run two households and his ex wife has actually just stopped working so he has lost his child maintenance payments and is struggling himself at the moment, he’s using his savings to cover the shortfall in that, plus someone ran into his car and drove off, writing it off so he’s had to pay out for lots recently.

It seems to have been one thing after the other bad luck wise recently.

I’ve tried going into the job centre but they’ve said I have to do it online but there’s no option for my circumstances.

Does anyone have any advice?

OP posts:
Surfskatefamily · 14/12/2018 18:52

You can claim UC. The same rules apply for number of children and dates born as for tax credits. Go to entitledto.com and use the benefit calculator. It is very accurate.
Dont worry too much. Times like this are what benefits are for.

AnotherEmma · 14/12/2018 18:58

"Wow, so people who've been responsible about reproduction and haven't had a load of kids get punished by putting on UC but those who have a large brood are spared and left on legacy benefits?"

Legacy benefits don't pay extra for more than 2 children.

It's a technical hitch with the UC system, they will fix it and get families with 3+ children applying for UC soon.

Some people are actually slightly better off under UC btw, some people are worse off and for others it's pretty much the same.

Surf
"You can claim UC."
No, the OP can't claim UC because has 3 children and the system doesn't allow for that yet. She has to claim income support, child tax credits and housing benefit instead, as already stated.

Original poster
5iveGoldRings · 14/12/2018 19:00

@Surfskatefamily this is what it says on the entitledto website.

To ask for advice regarding claiming benefits?
OP posts:
Musereader · 14/12/2018 19:04

UC will open to people with more than two children in feb 19.

It is apparently a matter of adding a bit in the software because the two child rule only applies to children born after april 17 so if you have all children born before then you get paid for all, but if any are born after then you get paid for the ones born before and none after. Eg my sister has 4 children 3 born before which she would get paid for and the 4th she would not

reallymate · 14/12/2018 19:09

If you look obviously pregnant it's worth asking citizens advice for advice because that may well have been the reason they let you go and that's not ok.

ElizabethWoodviile · 14/12/2018 19:22

I started a new job just before I found out I was pregnant. Was told yesterday (a week after telling my boss) that I haven’t passed probation and they’ve let me go.

Why do you leave your previous employment? Could you possibly go back to your prev employer and ask if they have any temp/seasonal work for you while you secure something else?

ElizabethWoodviile · 14/12/2018 19:27

Sorry meant if you were planning a pregnancy why did you not stay in your previous employment as your rights/ protection would have been greater with a longer length of service?

Shepherdspieisminging · 14/12/2018 19:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
5iveGoldRings · 14/12/2018 19:41

@ElizabethWoodviile left previous to start new job. Was headhunted and offered more money/better commute/hours/could work from home

I had a miscarriage at 12 weeks in April. Have had no period since. Was being referred for bloods and scans regarding possible pcos as thought I wasn’t ovulating (taking bbt didn’t pick it up and had no positive opks)

when I left my old job I didn’t know I was pregnant or that there was any chance in the immediate future. I wouldn’t have left if I had have known. So this pregnancy was an unplanned but planned one.

I will swallow my pride and ask to go back. I don’t know if they will have me (they weren’t best pleased when I left) but I’ve got to try. Even if I can pick up one or two pieces to work on it’s better than nothing.

OP posts:
Graphista · 14/12/2018 19:42

"I work for Citizens Advice and I disagree with this comment:
"Also I've found CAB are usually well behind in benefits info I've not found them useful in that regard. They can be useful on employment law though and know which local lawyers cover which areas of law.""

How can you 'disagree' with MY experience? It's not yours and it's based on several visits to several different CAB across 4 counties.

And then your own advice supports what I said - you're confident advising on employment rights not so much on benefits side. In addition op's local CAB is rarely open which - in my experience - is also indicative of less well informed CAB volunteers.

Elizabethwoodville - excellent point about leaving previous employer while ttc, that's daft when you consider how maternity rights work.

WilburforceRaven · 14/12/2018 19:54

So you ditched your employer whilst you knew you weren't using birth control (so TTC, as having had 3 kids and 1 miscarriage, you know you are capable of conceiving) and now think your old employer will give you back your job when you're nearly halfway through a pregnancy and about to ditch them again to go on a long mat leave?

I hate UC, but I can see why people support changes to the system that stops paying people to have kid after kid they cannot afford to support themselves.

You all had 5 kids between you but that wasn't enough and now expect the taxpayer to pay for this one whilst you sit with your feet up.

Lovely.

Original poster
5iveGoldRings · 14/12/2018 20:02

yes, @WilburforceRaven, I’m going to give up my degree and over 20 years of working my way up to almost the top of the ladder in my career so I can sit on my arse for the next 25 years surviving on £73 a week Hmm

OP posts:
AnotherEmma · 14/12/2018 20:03

Graphista

"you're confident advising on employment rights not so much on benefits side."

Completely untrue! I was confidently advising on both. Actually I signposted the OP elsewhere for employment advice (Maternity Action and solicitor) whereas full benefits advice can be given by Citizens Advice. To confirm the advice about claiming as a single person I would want to look in the benefits handbook which is in the office (funnily enough I don't have a copy here at home) but I'm about 90% sure off the top of my head. We are trained to double check before giving definitive advice.

And I disagree with your sweeping claim about all Citizens advice offices based on your experience with a handful of them. My office is not like that. Some might be, not all.

However, I agree with you that a small local Citizens advice that is hardly ever open is unlikely to be one of the better ones. You never know, but I agree it's unlikely.

AnotherEmma · 14/12/2018 20:06

However, if you've read my posts and still think I'm "not confident" giving benefits advice, I don't think there's any point reasoning with you tbh. Your reading comprehensive skills can't be that great.

ElizabethWoodviile · 14/12/2018 20:07

@5iveGoldRings yes, I think In this situation see if you can go back to your old employer or work for them at least on a a temp basis. It's important to have money coming in. I left full time employment when I became pregnant as I knew I would not be returning to my job and had planned to leave to be a full time mum. I had saved/budgeted accordingly. I wanted to allow my employers to fill my position so that my colleagues were not left supporting my role while I was away and knew I would not return. I left & successfully managed within days to find a full time temporary role as a receptionist, ( not my given vocation)! via an agency up until my 31st week . I know your situation is different but I was at the same no of weeks as you and managed to find a full time temp role that took me up almost to term so it can be done. In this case your best bet is to find work
that takes you almost to term and then when baby his here you can look at returning to full time permanent employment to support your family. With a bit of luck you won't need to claim anything at all.

WilburforceRaven · 14/12/2018 20:08

Yet still couldn't manage to save enough at this cracking job to provide for another pregnancy.

ImNotKitten · 14/12/2018 20:10

The OP already has one child with this man and another on the way. Of course she can’t claim as a single person, it’s fraud!

AnotherEmma · 14/12/2018 20:12

OP you could ask MNHQ to move this thread to "Money Matters" if you're sick of the ignorant benefit bashers because I am.

ElizabethWoodviile · 14/12/2018 20:18

yes, @WilburforceRaven, I’m going to give up my degree and over 20 years of working my way up to almost the top of the ladder in my career so I can sit on my arse for the next 25 years surviving on £73 a week 

Op, you don't have to survive on £73 per week. You can work until term and then return to full time work in your chosen field as soon as baby is here. I don't see what the issue is. I had to go back to work as my savings were not enough, like all other mothers I know. That's life. I'm not sure what you are asking us. Work until term, have your baby and then go back to work. Simples! You won't need to claim a penny as self sufficient.

Original poster
5iveGoldRings · 14/12/2018 20:20

@AnotherEmma it’s fine. I expected it tbh.

I’ve had some brilliant advice from yourself and an anonymous MNetter so I’m happy to leave it as it is.
Thanks for taking the time to reply.

(Also, can someone get WilburforceRaven a saucer of milk?)

OP posts:
Original poster
5iveGoldRings · 14/12/2018 20:20

@ElizabethWoodviile it was sarcasm Hmm

OP posts:
AnotherEmma · 14/12/2018 20:21

You're welcome Smile

debtadviceflowerofscotland · 14/12/2018 20:25

Its children born after 6 April 2017 (not 2016) that the 3rd child rules kick in. If your toddler was born in summer 2016, then you should still be eligible for benefits for this child at the moment, that's my understanding anyway.

ElizabethWoodviile · 14/12/2018 20:28

This reply has been deleted

This is really not in the spirit of the site so we have deleted it.

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