Maternity allowance help.

[Firstimefreaked]

I was working in a care home (residential but heavy lifting) from April 2015 to November 19th 2016, I left my job and became pregnant a week later so Im due in August 18th (first child). My area doesn't really have any easier care work options so I didnt apply for more work and I wasn't eligible for any money from JSA due to my OH income which averages £250 a week which £125 goes towards rent each week. I received a small inheritance at the start of the year which I have been living on and buying baby things £2000. I budgeted so that I would have enough until the 26th week. I've done a few calculators and they keep saying that I am not entitled to any money besides my OH paternity pay, Is this right? I now owe rent due to unforseen flu on my OH part so borrowed money from my MD....Im getting a little freaked with our bills/debts etc we have more like £70 pwk...Is there really nothing I can claim? I am not actually qualified for anything but care and no one will hire me since Im this pregnant...(look so pregnant). The easier care jobs involve driving and I cannot drive.

Im reading through the government guidelines and I just do not understand it at all.

There is normally a period of time that you need to have worked 26 weeks within. However, as you have stopped work before you t pregnant it seems likely you won't be eligible.

www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance/eligibility

You'll need to work out if you were employed for 26 weeks within the relevant 66 week window.

What type of work were you planning on moving to when you left your job?

I was still planing on care but I was planing to start looking again in jan (I was going on holiday and then looked after my dying grandad he died in dec) which is when I found out I was pregnant, so when I found out I was pregnant I decided to focous on getting my self employed buisness ready for after the baby was born which I didnt want to start before as mat pay is really low and I wsant ready. its the 66 week thing that I found confusing I left on 19th nov 2016 (started april 2015). I dunno if I should just hedge my bets and try and push the self employed thing sooner, after alot of effort I think Im eligiable for £64 towards rent a week but useually they wont pay you the full amount.

Been trying to contact CAB but the poor guys are so busy.

after doing the maths i think Im 10 weeks short...I might be able to do it if I started working immediatly until 2 weeks before the baby is born :/

You will get tax credits and child benefit when baby is born. Then within three months of birth ( and your TC claim IS in place you can claim a sure start maternity grant of £500).

Also why didn't you apply for contributions based jsa?

Seven - Can you get contributions based JSA if you have volutarily left a job?

I'll have a look at contribution based jsa my partner when he left work (before he started new job) wasn't eligible but I might be because I worked the tax year?

If you left the job voluntarily you wouldn't be eligible for get jsa for up to 6 months and again you need to have worked so many weeks in the specified period to qualify.

I can't get contribution based jsa as I didn't work there for two years ffs.

You don't have to have been employed by them for 2 years, just have paid sufficient NI during the preceding 2 years. Maybe you haven't though.