Benefits for single parents - help please.

[Shells]

Hi. I don't live in the UK, but my newly pregnant friend does. She's happy to be pregnant (this is her first baby), but more than likely will be doing it on her own. The father is not financially stable and their relationship probably not secure.

She is very worried about how she is going to manage financially. She's currently self employed, has no family to help and is privately renting at the moment. Very little in terms of savings.

Can anyone recommend what kind of benefits she may be eligible for or how she should go about preparing and finding out what to do next?

Many thanks.

She needs to have a good look at entitledto.com and direct gov website.

Income Support from 29wks pregnant or when ever she ceases working (£65 ish per week). However she needs to see the CAB as rules may differ as she is S/E and depends what she is doing with her business. Ie will it still be operating.

Housing benefit for rent.

Child tax credits and Child benefit when baby arrives.

Working tax credits when/if she resumes work. Also possibly housing benefit depending on income when working

Thanks for that. A good start.

is he living with her at present?

Not formally. He's got his own place, but stays sometimes.

Did you ask for a reason ThreeBlondeBoys?

well yes,it would affect her claim if she had someone living with her

dont forget,she should contact csa too,he might not like it but he will need to pay some maintenence!

If she's self employed she should get Maternity Allowance of £123 a week while on maternity leave.