Maternity Pay? (Lost Job, now Self Employed)

[PrimroseBaby]

Hi all,
(New here so please feel free to share advice on how you best use mumsnet)

I lost my job in early December, and after failing to find a job after numerous rejections, I started my own business 3 weeks ago in early Jan. Fastforward to last week, and I now find out I'm pregnant. What a crazy couple of months! (Funnily enough, we were 'trying' and stopped when I lost my job, but BAM, fell pregnant anyway!)

Financially, I'm panicking. I can't give up the business as I have multiple bookings throughout the year and invested ££ into it, but Im not earning enough to give myself maternity, and I don't know what I'm entitled to as a new mum.

Financil advice to a nervous new mum?

You may qualify for Maternity Allowance. Do you have a partner?

This site will help you work out if you're entitled to maternity allowance www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance/eligibility.

You will also be entitled to child benefit which is £20.70/week.

Possibly tax credits depending on household income but also depends on whether you're in a universal credit area.

Congratulations on your pregnancy. Things usually have a way of working out and you're doing the right thing by working out where you stand. Congratulations on your new business too.

I do have a partner, we are married and live together. Solely living on his income at the moment, which just covers the bills

@MaverickSnoopy

Thank you for the URL. I had no idea where to begin.
I will check out the maternity allowance now.

How does one organise child benefit?

And thank you! We are very excited, it's just come at a very scary time, haha!

Possibly you may be entitled to maternity allowance.

Child benefit you can receive that once you have registered the baby's birth and have a birth certificate. Same with child tax credits / working tax credits

Maybe maternity allowance , that will depend if you meet the conditions. Child benefit and maybe Universal credit if household income is low, but maternity allowance would be deducted pound for pound from UC.

You should be entitled to Maternity Allowance which is around £500/month. You need to apply for this through the Job Centre I believe. I am also self employed (and due in 10 days) but I run a Ltd company and am paying myself maternity through that.

There was a great site I found that explained it all, I'll see if I can find it.