Sole wage earner and pregnant?

[FairyAnn]

Hi, looking for a bit of advice. I live with my partner (soon to be husband) and currently he is a student working towards a degree.

I'm the sole earner for the house but, if I get pregnant, is there any additional financial support available besides SMP? What about after the birth? The government website isn't too clear about it and I want to do my homework in preparation.

Any help appreciated.

Maybe Universal credit but any student loan and maternity pay is taken into account . The way it works is that you get paid various elements according to your situation - so you may get couples element, rent element ( if you rent) and child element when your child is born. those elements are all added together to make your total UC. then that amount is reduced by your partners maintainence loan and your smp, so really it would depend how high your rent is as to whether you get any help. Once you have a child then you get what is called a work allowance which means that a certain amount of your wages/ smp are disregarded before they reduce your UC. You would also be entitled to claim £20.70 child benefit per week, you can get this regardless of whether you get any UC.

How old are you? Would it not make more sense to wait until your partner has finished his training and is working?

I don't know where you live OP but nursery where we are is incredibly expensive. I'd definitely wait until my partner was earning if at all possible. The only reason not to wait IMO is if you are aged 35+. Otherwise I'd save up and both be earning before even considering starting a family. Everything is harder afterwards!

Thanks for the responses 😊 We own our house, not rented, and both 35+
Can't really wait any longer to start a family. We've budgeted and saved so can afford to get pregnant, but a bit extra each month would, of course, make things easier

You’ll get child benefit which is £20 a week for the first child. Depending on your wage you might be entitled to some universal credit but if you’re able to save for a baby on one wage I suspect you’re earning too much for any extra support.

If you have a baby before your partner is working it would make sense for him to be a SAHP and you going back to work once the savings/maternity pay runs out.

How long until he graduates?

Thank you - will add Child benefit to my research list

4 years til graduation but it's in a field that will lead to working pretty much straight away.

That's our plan - I'll take SMP then go back full time and he will be the stay at home parent.

I understand that we are unlikely to receive much at all due to my job, which is fine, but just wanted to be sure.

You might need to consider some form of childcare though for days when he has to attend lectures or placements if relevant. Childcare costs are the biggest outlay until they go to school.

How can he be the SAHP if he needs to study for 4 years for a degree that leads directly to a job?

I managed to study with a newborn.
I'd previously been studying with a full time job. Not easy, but it was very fulfilling to manage it.
If you are focussed, you can do it!