Maternity allowance and Income Support advice needed!

[kaonsyummymummiyy]

Hello,

I am in need of some advice on the above subject and after days of trawling the net, this forum might have some knowlege on the matter.

I am currently single, aged 23, 27 weeks pregnant and have just recently finished a temping job and will more then likely be entitled to maternity allowance.

I live on my own and usually pay full rent which is around £93 a week and council tax at £25 per month.

I was really trying my best to find work whilst pregnant to be able to be entitled to maternity allowance as it is more then income support and thought this will let me buy items for the baby before he arrives. As all the jobs I was being offered were low paid but I had to accept to pay bills, but couldn't save for my baby.

I have just looked into it and it turns out if i claim Maternity allowance at 29 weeks I will have to pay £48 rent a week and will not get any council tax benifit! Even though this will be my only income.
As I live alone and will have no help from the childs father I will not be able to keep up with the bills etc and prepare for my son on the money that will be left after paying my rent etc each week.

The only thing I can think of is to claim Income Support at 29 weeks as this will entitle me to full housing and council tax benefits and the sure start maternity grant. Then once he is born apply for the maternity allowance.

The only problem is I don't know if I will still be entitled to maternity allowance if I decide to claim income suport at 29 weeks instead.
As I am being told my job seekers allowance will stop at 29 weeks as I will no longer be available to look for work.

Do you know if doing a switch after he is born is possible as I know if you are unemployed such as my self at 29 weeks your maternity allowance must begin at 29 weeks.

I don't mind loosing some of my maternity allowance pay because I was on income support but I think I may be better off once my son is born as I can claim, tax credits and child benefit and having a dependent usually helps with being awarded more housing benefit.

Sorry to bother you with this but I really can't afford to pay that much rent, council tax, food, living expenses and most importantly baby things with just £124.33 a week until my son arrives.

Any advice will be much appriciated.

Thanks!

I think you need to go to citizens advice and go through your local situation with them.

If you're living on your own you should get a 25% discount on your council tax.

Have you claimed your health in pregnancy grant yet £190?

There is an online benefit checker but I don't know how much use it will be with maternity stuff
try this

Babies don't really need lots of expensive stuff. Start looking out at your local freecycle, free ads and ebay for bits and pieces. Ask around and you'll probably know a few people looking to clear bits that are too good to throw out and have plenty of life in them yet (babies grow out of stuff so quickly much second hand is as new).

try this Looks like you can possibly get working tax credit once you start on maternity allowance to top you up. Then when little one arrives you should also be able to get child tax credit.

Just looking at similar situations, this is better than the non-govermental page: www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/DoItOnlineByCategory/DG_172666

Citizen's Advice and CSA after the baby arrives. You've got enough to worry about..