would like to give up work and become a SAHM- how can i find out what monies i'm entitled to?

[kittyandthefontanelles]

I'm afraid I'm clueless and in need of advice. It seems to be very confusing. How can I find out what state help I might be entitled to? Currently get child benefit. Thanks in advance.

Er, that's it.... There are no 'sahm' benefits

I'd like to give up work and stay at home too

But then the bills wouldn't get paid and we'd end up homeless and / or in prison

I do believe there is a website called entitledto which may help you

We're not entitled to anything

What monies did you think you'd be entitled to?

In relation to what?

Um, what?

Oh yes I'd like to be paid to stay at home too! Didn't know you could be?!

Citizen's Advice Bureau would be your first port of call. Do you own or rent? Do you have a spare room (may affect your housing benefit if entitled to any)? Are you married or living with someone? All of these things matter.

Fantastic. I can give up work and I'm entitled to be paid anyway?

I am joking (almost)

Presumably you are referring to job seekers allowance which I thought was for people actively seeking work (clue was in the name) but I may be wrong

Tax credits or other?

As Olympia says there are no 'entitlements' to staying at home -but low wage earners (as a family) are entitled to help.

There's a benefits calculator on the direct.gov website. Depends entirely on your circumstances and partners income if any, you might get child tax credits, housing benefit and council tax benefit.

Oh yes I'd love to be paid to be a SAHM

Happily for tax payers there are no benefits for being a SAHM. Especially if you actively give up a job to be one. Its a personal choice which you should fund yourself.

You may be entitled to some tax credits/housing benefit . Depends on your circumstances

Thank you old lady, belmo and usual suspects. The rest of you, there was really no need for that, it was an innocent question. No I didn't mean job seekers because that's OBVIOUSLY for job seekers. I believe it is tax credits I am thinking of but I don't know because as I said in the op, I'm currently a clueless 'taxpayer'.

I'm married, my husband works full time, I have a sixth month old, we rent, I'm due back to work in October and am having sleepless nights about putting my daughter into nursery. The nature of mine and my husband's work means that she would be without us for about 10 hrs a day. It's untenable for me. I've just today started to consider giving up work and didn't expect such venom from a simple question. I am the higher earner, not sure we could manage so thought it was looking into if there was any state help. I work very hard and do not consider myself 'entitled'.

Thanks so much inzidoodle. That's exactly my situation. Glad someone understands. Shall look into tax credits tomomow. Glad you are enjoying your life!

Thanks again inzi. I'm determined and will love every minute just as I have so far. Got more planned too!

I was in this situation, when I added up the cost of childcare plus my travel expenses to work we were no better off compared to me giving up work! What is your partner's annual salary? And have you only earned SMP so far this tax year?

Thesecondcoming, If I went part time I'd still have to do full days when in. It's complicated...that's where she'd end up in nursery for 10 hrs. I think it boils down to the fact that, as inzi said, I don't want someone else looking after her. I'm sorry about your redundancy.

rock chick, hi. -Husband earns 17 gross. My smp-only portion is about to start this week I think so no. How does that effect things? Secondcoming, I'm planning to go back from maternity pregnant! Might they get rid of me? That would be great, I narrowly missed redundancy just before mat leave so know what my package would be! As an FE tutor I'm all for lifelong learning, good for you! What subject are you thinking of?

Your income for this tax year so far will be included in any tax credit calculations, however you can discount £100 for each week you are on maternity leave. Our household income now is around £18,000 and we get £160 every 4 weeks plus child benefit, if that helps you at all. If we were renting we would get about £10 a week towards the rent, however we have a mortgage so get no help towards that!

Try this calculator. If you base your figures on what your income would be you should be able to find out what you might receive.