Unpaid Maternity Leave and Housing Benefit

[giddyauntdora]

Hello all,
New to posting here, so please bear with me.
I am currently on maternity leave with is due to end in May when my DS will be 9 months old. I understand that I am entitled to request an extra 3 months unpaid leave, and I would dearly love to do so, but this is almost impossible financially. I am wondering if I took this option, would I be entitled to any Housing Benefit or similar for those 3 months?
I wouldn't be asking for JSA as I wouldn't be unemployed, but I would be without an income (and DH doesn't earn enough to cover my share of the rent unfortunately).
The extra time off would enable me to spend more time with DS before I put him in nursery and would also give me some time to find a new part time job, as I find my current position incredibly stressful.
If anyone has any ideas on this I'd be really grateful!
TIA

Depends on how much your dp earns. Do you currently qualify for tax credits, if not then definitely not! Benefits all go on annual income so if you will be earning a good wage once you go back to work then it's unlikely. Sorry to sound a bit doom and gloom, but most people save before going off on maternity to cover things like this, try googling turn 2 us (on phone so can't link) to do a benefits calculator.

thank you so much RockChick. Yes, we do qualify for tax credits, and yes, did save a bit, but live in London and don't earn a huge amount so funds thin on the ground. DP is an hourly paid lecturer and travels all over the place to do it and we live far from family etc so feeling like I don't want to put DS in nursery for long days while he is so little. Anyway I will google turn2us, thanks for your suggestion.