Just found out I'm pregnant and work 8 hours can I get any help?

[sweetiehuni]

I live with my partner who is self employed.
I work 8 hours a week permanent and it's a new job which I started last Monday 2nd April.
I don't claim any other benefits.
Will I be able to get SMP or Maternity Allowance or Income support?
I feel really confused with it all.
Some advice would be greatly appreciated.

I doubt you would earn enough to get SMP doing so few hours.

Income support is for lone parents or carers who have no other income. You won't get it as you have a working partner. You can look at tax credits or Universal credit ( depending on the area you live in ) once your baby is born if you are on a low enough household income.

You should get maternity pay from your employer if you have worked there over a year generally, but check your contract.

If you don't get that then yes you can claim statutory maternity allowance, if you are renting you may also be entitled to some Housing Benefits and Council Tax Support but this depends on your partners earnings. Once baby is here you will be entitled to Child Benefit and may also be entitled to Tax credits. Hope that helps

I think you would need to earn at least £116 a week to qualify for SMP.

You can claim Maternity Allowance, but it will only be what you earn now, no more. Then once baby is born you will get child tax credit and child benefit. Both depending on how much your partner earns.

Have you worked longer hours in the recent months? Because for maternity allowance you only need 13 weeks worth of payslips and it goes quite a few months back that’s you can take these 13 weeks from. So if you have worked more hours within the last year or so you’ll be entitled to more.

Hope that makes sense!

If you stay in the job for at least 6 months or have worked in the past 4 months or so you should get MA. You need 26 weeks' work in the 66 preceding the birth to qualify. Your partner's income would be taken onto account for any benefits.

Wow your employer is lucky to have you!

No I only work 8 hours and only started last Mon 2nd. Before that my last work was in December 2017 temp contract.
My partner works 20 hours a week at the moment but it varies because he is self employed.

You are unlikely to get working tax credits either because as a couple you only work 28 hours a week between you.

You should qualify for child tax credits and child benefit but really unlikely to get any other help.

Where do you live? Are you living with family or as a couple in rented accommodation?

We rent x

You only need to be working 24 hours as a couple to claim working tax credits once the baby is born.