what can i claim?

[jojomii26]

Hi im new to this. We are currently trying for our first baby, so excited but money is in the back of my mind.
I know i get 2 full weeks pay then 7 weeks wages less 10% of my earnings and after that its smp at around £135 per week, impossible to live on so im wondering if i would be entitled to income support or tax credits to top it up otherwise id be back at work before my baby is 2 months old! The direct gov and hmrc tell you nothing.
My plan is to take start mat leave 4 weeks before im due providing im well enough to do so, or im thinking of taking 7 weeks sick leave before my mat leave starts as my company will pay me sick for 7 weeks every 12 months and then tag 4 weeks hol on to the end of my leave or whatever i have accrued.
Im not been funny but the benefit system seems to favour the workshy rather than the people who work full time.

We both work full time on not great money and my partner earns less than me so he is planning to go back part time for childcare reasons. We have a rough idea how much tax credits we can claim so we will be ok when im back to work. But i want to take 9 months mat leave not what would feel like 9 days!
Any help would be great!
Xx

You want to pretend to be sick for 7 weeks???!!!

Hopefully not but at this rate i will, loads of people pretend to be sick anyway ..

tbh, if you're only at the trying for a baby stage, I think you need to concentrate on saving up as much as possible to bridge the gap between smp and outgoings. Presumably you'll be going back full time if your partner is going back PT?

You aren't even pregnant yet. Benefits change all the time so maybe look at when you actually need them? And yy Fred 7 weeks sick?

Yes i will be full time as i earn more and my hours are good.

Yeah great idea to rip of your employer!

I think you've got it the wrong way around as well. Rather than plunging into having children when you can't really afford them, spend some time trimming your budget and building up your savings instead. Taking time off pretending to be sick when you're not is a stupid idea, sorry.

Not sure what your comments about "workshy" are all about tbh

But yes you COULD take 7 weeks sick leave - why would you want to if you feel well though. I was seriously ill when I was due to go back to work so needed my sick leave - be aware you might NEED it too. It's there for that and if you use it up frivolously you might find the decision comes back to bite you on the bum - hopefully not buy just something to bear in mind.

They won't let you take sick leave at that stage
They'll make you start your maternity leave
I'd save up before ttc then you won't gave to rely on benefits

Planned it, sorted finances etc but if everyone thought they couldnt afford children then np one would have them, its just the mat leave im asking about as we will be fine once im back working, and yes going on the sick, i know of 2 old college friendz who claim sick and arent really.
Think folk have mis interpreted my question which was can you claim income suppprt or tax credits whilst on smp?

Totally agree with you about your last post. While we can all plan to afford children as much as possible they do cost a fortune and most people need some form of financial aid. Even if it's only child benefit it helps.

At a certain stage in your pregnancy, sick leave turns into maternity leave, so that you are forced to start your maternity leave early instead, and get less at the "end".

You will therefore be better off working for as long as you can, most people work right up to a week or two before their due date, to maximize on maternity leave.

Your work ethics leave a lot to be desired, frankly, with that attitude.

I worked up until 2 weeks before my due date to maximise my time off after and really needed my sick leave because I was ill. Just bear in mind that if you ARE unwell then you might need that sick leave.

It's crap but most of us have to go back to work before we'd like to. You might find that it's not that bad when it comes down to it and your sick leave will then be intact for when you need it.

Have you read a newspaper or watched the news or heard a report on the radio at all in the past year?

Just to bring you up to speed - you will probably get sweet fuck all on benefits, so best you don't "try" for a baby until you have enough savings to see you through your maternity leave

What difference will taking time off sick make to how long you have off with you baby? From 36 weeks your employer will make you start maternity leave anyway, you would be far better off working until as close to your due date as you can!

Regarding tax credits, while you are on maternity leave the first £100 per week is disregarded for income calculations. How much do you and your partner earn? You would not be eligible for income support, tax credits (once baby is born) depend entirely on your income.

Oh, and if neither you or dh were working (as you seem to think would mean you were better off!) you would actually be far worse off!

Personally, I saved like mad through my pregnancy to allow me to take as long as possible off with my son, this is what the majority of people have to do!

Have you looked into additional paternity leave, rather than you taking a significant amount of time off, you take 13 weeks then go back to work, your partner can take the rest of your maternity pay.

You need to remember that we are lucky to get the maternity benefits we do, when I was born my mum had no choice but to go back to work after 4 months! You are choosing not to save for your maternity leave, therefore you are choosing to put yourself into a situation where you have to go back to work quickly!

If you go on the sick while in the later stage of pregnancy your employer can insist you start your SML - so not really an option i know this has been said

Better to look at 'www.turn2us.entitledto.co.uk/ to get an idea of if you will get tax credist etc