Anyone got help from government with mortgage payments while on maternity leave?

[Neuro]

I have searched and searched on the internet but nothing very clear or solid has come up. If I rent then I can get some housing benefit, but not sure if i can or can't get help with mortgage.

Am panicking as while on maternity my income per month will only be about 900 quid and to run my flat costs 850. Won't be able to afford nappies!

Please advise me if anyone knows.

Thanks

I dont think you will get help with your mortgage.

No, there is no help with a mortgage whilst on maternity. You will get family allowance once baby is born and tax credits if your income is under the threashold. Your maternity scheme is better than most as SMP is usually only £104 a week.

Wont babys dad help out with money?

I thought you had to be working not on maternity to claim tax credits ir the full lot not the bit everyone gets.

if you claim tax credits you can still claim them whilst on maternity leave but they dont go up when your mat pay goes down to cover the difference. (at least that was the case 3 years ago).

You only get help with mortgage interest after so many months (9ish iirc) of claiming Jobseekers' Allowance etc. You might get help with Council Tax though and of course, later on, Child Benefit

If you receive working tax credits did you estimate your earnings as if you were working the whole year? What i did was estimate my earnings as if I was working for the whole year, then when I went on to SMP i rang and told them that my income had reduced so you get a little extra wftc when your on SMP. Also are your entitled to the surestart maternity grant of £500? You could also ask your mortgage lender for a payment holiday.