What if anything am I entitled to?

[Littleelffriend]

Hi all, I'm really confused as to what benefits if any I'm entitled to claim. I'm in Scotland on maternity leave. I live with my partner, my salary is 30k and last year he earned just over 70k (his salary varies but doesn't drop below 50k). We have no childcare costs at present as baby is only 6 weeks and I plan to take a year off. Can anyone help?

The benefit system is to help people in need. You're not in need but I guess you know that.

I cant imagine why a couple on £100k wouldnt have put money into savings to support the maternity leave period. Theyre bound to have had spare money every month.

If you look at a site such as entitled to then you'll be able to put the relevant figures in and find out

Edinburgh is expensive. So do what everyone else does and move out to one of the surrounding areas and commute in. No one is entitled to live in the New Town.

I can't understand why it would even occur to you to think you might get benefits. That would be bonkers!

You winding me up?

'Property in Scotland is cheap as chips right?'

No, it isn't in any area where there is plentiful work.

There are no differences between England and Scotland in this respect.

Why should you get extra state support? You earn plenty. Oh fgs why am I even engaging? You're on a wind up

I assume you are in Aberdeen! Or possibly an expensive bit of one of the major cities. A nice 4 bed house could easily have a mortgage that looked a bit scary without your income. I'm afraid for those not living in Scotland that houses are certainly not 'as cheap as chips' everywhere!
However, you will indeed only get statutory maternity pay and no benefits. I tend to agree that you have a high enough combined income that you should be able to budget and save sufficiently in advance to keep you going through maternity leave, if you can't then you have to take shorter leave.
DH and I are not in a dissimilar position to you and I am eternally grateful that I earn enough to pay a lot of tax and hope I never need it back in benefits. They are in my view a safety net for people in difficulty for whatever reason, a contribution to a society that should (in theory) never allow someone to starve on the streets - not a saving scheme.

I don't know what the problem is I was asking a question. We don't live beyond our means. We don't have lots of savings because we just bought a house. We could do with extra because the last property isn't sold and we're paying a mortgage on it.

😂😂😂😂

Ooh ooh! I know, I know! You need to become an accidental LL!

Do i win the troll bingo?

Have you thought about selling some stuff on ebay???

Sell your fucking life story for all I care.

Waste of time.

If it's a waste of time why bother replying

If you're waiting for your other property to sell and struggling temporarily could you get a loan?

We live in an expensive part of the country and do fine on about £60k between us. You just need to live to your means.

So this is Aberdeen!?

For those that aren't aware, in the Scottish system there is no such thing as a chain, you are usually in a binding agreement to buy or sell within a week of making an offer. So people either end up with two properties (and possibly a bridging loan) or no property and renting/staying with friends or family and stuff in storage if the timing doesn't come together.

The property market in aberdeen has recently tanked, nothing is selling due to all the job cuts and some people there will certainly be in the position of the OP. Rental prices have also cratered and are unlikely to come close to covering the mortgage, especially for a higher rate taxpayer.

OP if this is your situation I suggest you look at a depressingly large price reduction if you are trying to rent or sell the second property and accepting that you may have to return to work when your company maternity pay runs out. We are 'entitled' to a year of parental leave in this country, which is generous but only if we can support ourselves. You really aren't close to the situation of people needing benefits.

You would only get the minimum level of state support if your joint income was £30-40k. Above that, you get child benefit unless one parent earns over £60k and there is a reduction for earning over £50k.

That's why people are so shocked you are asking. State support is for people in need. You aren't in need.

I did reply, OP, twice. You ignored my well meant advice and my question asking for clarity so I could further help you.

Fucking hell.

It was a genuine question so thanks for all the actual responses.

OP: Have you spoken to your work about Maternity Pay?
Are your recieving it at the moment and how much?