Tax Credits while on maternity leave

[user1490696463]

Can anybody advise me on this? I have just discovered I am pregnant, I am not with the father and I am worried about paying my mortgage while on statutory maternity pay. Can i claim tax credits during this time. I have two over children and work full time. My salary is too high for any help but when I go down to £140 a week what will I do?
I would like to go part time after the baby comes so I assume I will be entitled to credits then?
I really worried about continuing the pregnancy.
Any advice on money would be good I have never claimed tax credits or any benefits before.

There is a new rule coming in from April which means if you are making a new claim you cannot claim for more than 2 children so you will only get them for 2 children. How much you get will depend on your wages. £100 of smp is discounted for a certain number of weeks so won't count towards income. You should get child benefit for 3.

You will possibly get help towards childcare when you go back to work but the amount will depend on your salary. For the period of mat leave when you will need to try to estimate your income. They will probably initially give you an award of nil as your earnings for the previous tax year will be too high to qualify. You need to then ring them back with an estimate of your lower earnings.