Living on SMP

[annd139]

Hi all, I am due to go on maternity leave with my first in a couple of weeks and am fretting about how I am going to afford to pay the mortgage and bills when my wages drop.

It looks like my OH's contract will be finishing around the time I give birth and if he cannot get straight into another job times are going to be really tough. Looking at worse case does anyone know are there any benefits or grants I could be looking into claiming? eg if my OH has to claim job seekers would we be eligible for a sure start grant?

Thanks everyone

possibly tax credits once the baby is born if your estimated joint income for 2014-15 is low enough . if it is your first child the cut off is £26k. if you were awarded a higher rate of tax credits you may be eligible fr the sure start grant. You should also get child benefit. Surely if you have both been in employment up to the birth you should be able to get baby equipment etc, you can get a lot of stuff very cheap secod hand. T he grant is really for people on Income supo/ |Jsa/ very low incomes.

Ebay has been brilliant, got a bargain of a cot over the weekend! I will have a look at the tax credits thanks for youir help