Advice regarding benefits whilst I care for my baby post operation

[Excited2meetmyprincess]

Hi
I have always worked but due to my current post being through an agency I had to claim maternity allowance when I left to have my baby. My plan was to return to the agency when this ran out. However my baby was born with a few problems including a cleft palate and will have to have a few operations in her first 12 months so I don't want to return to work until after she has had these so that I am here to look after her.
But I was wondering if I would be entitled to claim anything once my maternity allowances stops because I couldn't claim JSA because I wouldn't be actually looking for work
Any advice you can give would be very helpful. X

Are you a single parent or do you have a partner, if so what do they earn?

I have a partner. He is self employed so wages vary. But he takes on average around £25,000 a year before tax x

It's just going to be tax credits and child benefit that you can claim, and it won't be a lot due to your DP's wages. If the operations will be in her first 12 months, you will still be getting MA for most of this time won't you?

I had to finish work early because I wasn't well so my MA ends in may and her last op is November x

Just child benefit if you have just one child as £25k is the cut off limit for one child from memory.

Perhaps look for something around your partners hours, maybe nights or weekends and then that way one of you will be at home until you can resume your more normal working hours.

Tax credits cut-off is £26k. You won't be eligible for additional benefits unfortunately.