Young, first time parents, what support is available?

[0903646]

My long-term girlfriend and I have just found out we are pregnant.

We have been together 5 years and are both 21 and both full-time students entering the final year of our teaching degrees in September. Although the baby was not planned, we are certainly going to keep it as we know we have the family support, a secure relationship and strong finances to take care of everything that is needed.

With neither of us working however, I was wondering if someone would be able to provide us with a few pointers towards what kind of financial support would be available?

There is so much conflicting information out there about what we would/wouldn't be entitled to (tax credits/family allowance/85% government contribution towards childcare) and I thought this would be the best place to come for definitive information whilst I trawl Google myself!

Thanks for your time, any help is gratefully received.

Dan.

If you go on www.entitledto.co.uk it'll calculate it for you. Things like tax credits will only apply once baby is born, and the cut off for any help other than child benefit is £26,000 so if you will be earning more than that between you from next April, you may not get any help. When is your girlfriend due? Congratulations!

The Turn2Us site is very good but, as you are full-time students, it will tell you that not everything shown is available to you. However, if you check with your student union or student services there is separate/different financial help possible for people still in full-time educttion. Good luck

Thanks to you both.

She is due in Febuary of next year and we will have no household income between us. We will be registered as students until we graduate in May 2012.

Will you be able to secure evening/weekend jobs in the meantime? Save up a little?

We've around 5k saved between us, and it only needs to supportus a year until we can start work, I just want to find out what is available to us and what we are entitled to, as obviously we wouldlike to claim it.

In terms of what we are entitled to, we're going to be moving into a seperate property once the baby is born, so our household income will be nothing.

I presume you are graduating in May 2013?

Child benefit is £20ish a week.
Everything else, I would see your student union money people. BUT the general rule is 'we can't tell you until you apply'. So while it will take a bit of time, I would apply for everything, just in case.

Also, register with all the supermarket 'baby clubs' and every company that makes baby stuff - set up a new email address so they don't flood your inbox!

This will get you LOADS of free stuff, from nappies and wipes to bottles and baby food.

I had dd when I was a postgrad & dp was on a graduate medicine course. We got full ctc, & he got extra elements in his bursary. I was told we couldn't get housing benefit as students although I have been told otherwise since. In my experience it was a bit of a black hole as regards financial support. Definitely definitely go to your union & your welfare support people as they will know more.