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Original poster

Am I really entitled to nothing?

104 replies

Alfayxo · 19/02/2019 10:28

Basically I went to citizens advice as I was confused as online calculators said I was entitled to nothing. They told me to go onto their website to “turn2us” calculator (already used it but that’s the only advice they had, helpful) which I did and it said that I’m entitled to zero. Not a penny. After the baby comes it is the 20.70 but that’s all.
Here’s my story:

So I’m now 25 weeks pregnant and on a PGCE primary course. Because of how my course works, I have to go on my maternity leave in two weeks (before my final placement). I’ve been applying for part time jobs but I’m visibly pregnant so people haven’t been hiring me (even though I have all the experience for these jobs and even though discrimination against pregnancy is illegal, it’s obvious why they do it). Due to my PGCE and final year of uni last year, I haven’t worked since end of December 2017. Therefore I know I’m not entitled to maternity pay or allowance.
I currently live with my fiancé with my parents. He earns (as of a week ago) 26,000. However, before he met me he got himself into a LOT of debt and therefore struggles with money and is paying off overdrafts and loans so can’t really support me as well as our baby. We only pay 200 rent at my parents and we are on the waiting list for a council house.

So can anyone tell me why I’m not entitled to anything? I’ve looked for part time work and can’t get any. I don’t really want to go into work STRAIGHT after labour but I know I’m going to have to as I can’t afford to live otherwise. I’m getting myself really run down stressing about it all.

OP posts:
ArnoldBee · 19/02/2019 10:33

The flippant answer is that you have a partner to support you. Have you also checked out the eligibility for maternity allowance?

SilverGiraffe7 · 19/02/2019 10:36

I would imagine you're not entitled to anything because they assume your partner will support you as he's over threshold for tax credits etc. I know it's hard with debt etc - has he been for support / help with handling the debt? Making that manageable so he can financially support both you and the baby until s/he is old enough for you to go to work / back to your training.

NotANotMan · 19/02/2019 10:36

Because your partner earns enough to support you both!

GreenTulips · 19/02/2019 10:42

You don’t have many outgoings living with parents and paying them a pittance

Your DP was irresponsible with money and you can’t claim against that!

What were you expecting a life of Riley on benefits like you see in the papers and TV?

TearingUpMyHeart · 19/02/2019 10:46

Get your partner to move out and claim as a single parent. Otherwise, yes, he is supposed to be supporting you. I guess this pregnancy was unplanned?

IVEgottheDECAF · 19/02/2019 10:46

Your oh earns a fair wage op its not the governments fault hes in debt

Original poster
Alfayxo · 19/02/2019 10:46

Obviously wasn’t expecting “the life or Riley”. My parents are also on benefits because my dad is severely disabled so I know it’s not a dream life to have as I’ve been watching them struggle all my life. Obviously baby didn’t come at ideal timing (if she did she would have came into my life after finishing uni and in my full time teaching role) but I’m still happy that she’s coming. I’m not expecting thousands of pounds. I just assumed, from what I know of others on benefits, that if at least get like 100 a month or something. Just confused me as my friend claims benefits and her partner is on more than mine so I’m unsure how it all works.

OP posts:
Original poster
Alfayxo · 19/02/2019 10:47

Thank you to some of your replies however! Explained it well for me and gave sound advice without being rude. Hugely appreciated

OP posts:
Debruary · 19/02/2019 10:48

You have low living costs and a partner earning £26k - the system won’t take debt repayments etc into account

Hoppinggreen · 19/02/2019 10:49

So basically you can’t afford to have a baby at the moment but since you are anyway you will have to manage
You live with parents and I’m assuming your outgoings are low and given that your boyfriends salary isn’t bad, just because he has debts it doesn’t mean you will get benefits
Ideally you should have looked for a job as soon as you decided to have the baby instead of leaving it until you were visibly pregnant - you can’t afford to not work so that’s what you will have to do as soon as the baby is born. If that means putting your studies on hold then so bet it.
Having a baby takes away quite a large element of choice

IVEgottheDECAF · 19/02/2019 10:50

Does your friend have more dc the income limit is higher for more dc

Spanglyprincess1 · 19/02/2019 10:50

Bit harsh of pp but essentially your partner needs to support you. Can you sit down and go through his financial situation and agree a budget?
Could you do anything else to.earn moeny eg sell off old clothes etc? Can he speak to moneyexpert or citizens advice and agree payment plans on debts so it's more manageable?
Can you get baby stuff all second hand - I did for my little one and it's great saved 100's. (Mattress n car seat msut be new though!)

Tbh your living costs are minimal at 200 a month plus a bit for food and bills. If your living for 500 a month as a couple then baby won't add much esp if breastfeed n go to free groups! Your aprtner should ahve 1000 or so left after living costs, that's a lot. Most people living costs are 1000-1200 a month minimum as a couple (bills, rent etc) before food. Then you could find work at six months old.

Original poster
Alfayxo · 19/02/2019 10:52

Yeah obviously the baby was not planned. However due to personal reasons, I decided to keep so I knew it would be a struggle. I did have a part time job for literally 2 weeks once I found out I was pregnant but university pressured me to quit as they basically said I’d fail my teaching course if I had a job as well (stupid me listened of course). I know it’s my own fault on that one. I know I’ll just go back into work as soon as baby comes, it’s not a huge deal but it’s just a tad depressing to think about. But at least with the next baby, they will be planned (hopefully) and I’ll be a full time teacher and get my full maternity leave and pay to spend time with my LOs

OP posts:
Flurgle · 19/02/2019 10:54

You will struggle massively to do your nqt year with a small baby. My children were older and it was exhausting and guilt laden.
£26000 would be fine if not for the debts.
He will have to organise some kind of steady but manageable payment plan so that he can support you and the baby for now. Your living costs are low.
I worked evenings when mine were small. It cut out the childcare cost and meant I could stay at home all day.

Babyroobs · 19/02/2019 10:55

you can't claim anything in your own right ( contributions based benefits) because you've presumably not paid any NI contributions. You have a partner to support you and you pay very little rent. if you were renting and paying a high rent ( like many people do) then once the baby arrives you would get some Universal credit as well as child benefit. You may still get something, it's hard to know without doing a detailed calculation ( sometimes the online benefit calculators are wrong). Any means tested benefits take no account of outgoings ( except rent), the fact that your partner has debts has no effect on what benefits you receive.

FamilyOfAliens · 19/02/2019 10:55

Apply to work as a poll clerk at the local council elections on 2 May. It’s £170 for one (long) day.

I do it every year because I enjoy it!

Original poster
Alfayxo · 19/02/2019 10:58

Another little question:
We are on the council waiting list at the moment as parents house are very cramped. I’m not expecting to be given anywhere soon like but if we are given somewhere in the next few months, therefore I’ll be expected to pay rent and stuff also, will I then be entitled to anything or would it be expected my partner would pay for it all? Find it all super confusing 😂

OP posts:
Lightsabre · 19/02/2019 10:58

Be careful of you claim benefits from your parents address as, for example, if they receive any housing benefit etc rebate this might be affected by the total household income, including your partners.

VanCleefArpels · 19/02/2019 11:00

You won’t qualify for any contribution based benefits because you haven’t paid enough NI. Your friend is likely to be paying a market rent therefore claiming HB or housing element of UC if you are in a UC area. As others have said you have very low outgoings, a partner on close to median income and a roof over your head. You are very lucky.

ForeverBubblegum · 19/02/2019 11:01

You won't be getting far off £100 a month, the £20.70 from the calculator is child benefit per week, so 80 something a month. That's probably what you were thinking of.

Your friend might be getting tax credits or UC to cover child care costs, the earning limit is much higher for that.

Can your partner set up a debt management plan, so he is left with enough to support you and baby?

Fairenuff · 19/02/2019 11:01

Are you sure he is dealing with his debt properly? What does he spend his wages on. Does he have xbox or something that he could sell? Don't let him be a selfish father. He has to provide for you and the child because you can't work at the moment. If he won't prioritise you both then you need to really decide if you want to be in this relationship.

VanCleefArpels · 19/02/2019 11:02

If you are housed as a couple your joint position will be considered.

HeyCarrieAnneWhatsYourGame · 19/02/2019 11:02

Could your partner work as a delivery driver for Domino’s or similar? The pay is pretty good and he could do it evenings and weekends outside his normal job.

ChariotsofFish · 19/02/2019 11:03

You’ll be entitled to child benefit once the baby is born. It’s about £20 a week. Other than that your DP will have to sort his finances out to support you both. He can’t be spending his whole salary on debt repayment and if he is he needs to rearrange his debt repayment schedule.

Noonemournsthewicked · 19/02/2019 11:04

Me and OH work part time. Me term time only. Him 30 hours a week (which I think is classed as full time for the employment figures). These are semi skilled jobs. We both earn less than full time minimum wage and are entitled to zero help. Last year I earned even less in an agency style skilled job and should have got some help but I can't claim for it now.

Meanwhile someone I work with gets more in universal credit than I do in a wage, then gets her wage, gets 85% of child care back and gets child benefit like everyone else on top. And that's before any spousal payments.

You'd be better off being a single parent. Look into claiming on your own.