I work part time while to son is at school but now I’m pregnant

[Leighanne11]

I get some help with my rent (still struggling as it’s capped - my wages hardly cover the rest of my rent) but obviously when I have my new child I won’t be working. What will happen? I won’t have any income to pay the rest of my rent? I rent privately at the moment, the council pay me and I pay my managing agents. The council said there is a 10 year wait for a council house and by then my son will be 18 so pretty pointless in applying. ( their words) any suggestions

Once you have 2 children your benefits will go up, including child benefit, have you factored this in?

Presumably the child has a father?

Of course the unborn child has a father but we are not together or at all on good terms as he does not want anything to do with the child and no interest in being a dad

I doubt they will pay £700 for the second child every month as this is what I pay for my part of the rent?

You probably should have considered this before you had sex.

You'll have to use the entitled to website and input income etc and see if you're entitled to any more benefits.

If not you'll have to move to a cheaper place.

Whether you are together or not the father should pay maintenance. Persue him through the CSA for this.

If you're employed then you should be able to get some Mat Leave so you don't need to give up work just yet.

How far along are you?

Bit late now

I'm sorry you are in this situation but it is of your own making. My friend is in a similar situation but her ds is now 6 months old. She had to return to work when he was 5months and work fulltime in a low income wage. She doesnt even take home half her income after childcare costs. But like she says it's her choice to have children she needs to support them.

Go via CMS to see if you can get child maintenance from the father(s). Child maintenance is ignored for the purpose of calculating benefits.

You may be eligible for maternity allowance once on maternity leave if you are not eligible for SMP

You can also apply to local council for a discretionary housing payment to cover the shortfall between your housing benefit and your rent. You need to show that your outgoings exceed income and provide details of all your circumstances. If your property is unaffordable and this makes up at risk of homelessness say this as councils would rather pay a DHP than have to rehouse you. Hey also have a duty to prevent homelessness now.

If you have to you can make s homelessness application on the basis of unaffordability. Council are likely to pay DHP in this event to keep you in property. So just applying for DHP is probably easier. Awards are generally for only 6 months so you will need to reapply.

If you are still in hardship go to local citizens advice - there are charitable hardship grants you can apply for.

Are you aware of sure start maternity grants and help with vitamins and milk etc.

If you don't have enough for food then food bank vouchers are available from local citizens advice and children and family centres. You may also be able to get key meter utility top ups if needed but this varies from area to area.

Even if you’re not eligible for maternity pay from your work you may be eligible for maternity allowance from the government, which is up to £145 a week, so may make up most of the rent shortfall and with child benefit on top you would be able to make up the rent. My guess is that you live in London and that moving out may ultimately be the only/best option in the long run.