Mat pay ended can I get any other help?

[lizzlebizzle33]

Hi there, I've been off work after having ds2 for 9 months. I'm due back to work very soon as my SMP ends next week.

Ds2 still doesn't sleep well, I usually get 3 or 4 hours of sleep a night if I'm lucky. Ds1 has started having night terrors so I'm constantly being woken by him screaming so loud, going checking in him wakes me up an it's hard to get back to sleep too.

I don't feel ready to go back to work but we need the money. I can take another 3 months off without it affecting my job but it will be unpaid.

Does anybody know if there is anything I can apply for which may help us to get by if I don't go back to work right away?

Probably not as you are still classed as employed even if you aren't getting paid. Do you qualify for tax credits/ child benefit

That depends on household income. Do you have a partner who works? You may be eligible for some tax credits.

Tax credits or Universal credit maybe depending on circumstances - how much rent you pay and how much your partner earns.

You should have accrued annual leave (unless you are a teacher etc). Could you take a block of that?

Don't forget to extend your maternity leave you also need to give your employer at least 8 weeks notice from the date you were due to return.

Unless she already have a return date then her employer should assume she is taking the full year. You would then give notice that you are returning early if coming back before the end of 12 months