Benefit Blunders

[Debsx27]

Hi all,

I’m new to this, but would really appreciate some advice.

My maternity has recently stopped so I am no longer getting any SMP.
I won’t be returning to work as I have just found that I am pregnant again, and I don’t even know where to start when it comes to benefits to get some form of money in to take care of my other 2 children.

Can anyone help as to what they can claim?
Thank youuu

I won’t be returning to work as I have just found that I am pregnant again

the baby won't be due another 9 months. I would return to work and go on maternity leave again when the baby is due.

With 1 baby and one on the way, I guess you have s partner. Benefits all depend on household income so impossible to say.

the baby won't be due another 9 months. I would return to work and go on maternity leave again when the baby is due

Agree with the above

In what way has Maternity stopped? Have you got to 39 weeks now or did you resign?

Would make most sense to return to work and get another maternity leave op

You can input different situations into an online calculator such as on entitled to which can give you an idea of if you can get help with childcare costs etc

I’m pretty sure you don’t get benefits because you’re pregnant and choosing not to return to work.

Why aren't you going back to work? Are you certain that continuing with this fourth pregnancy is the right thing for you to do?

Do you already receive tax credits and working tax credits? if you are no longer working then you can't claim wtc anymore and would possibly be better off on Universal credit. You would only receive child elements for any children born before April 2017 though .

I have 2 children, under age of 2, I have no childcare to help if I did go back to work, as due to cost of the nurseries nowadays on my salary wouldn’t be worth it. So going back to work seems pretty pointless when I can look after my children myself.

My maternity stopped as I got to the 9 months out of 12 from last pregnancy, so I don’t receive any more SMP after this month.

I’m thinking of other benefits due to having my other children to think bout.

It’s my third pregnancy and termination is something I don’t agree with. Just my opinion.

I was only asking as to what benefits I might be entitled to due to no longer receiving SMP.

I only get child benefit for my two, that’s all.

Op try putting your details into one of the online calculators. Even though you dont qualify for tax credits etc now with a third child you might as how much you can earn increases with number of children. E.g we have 4 dc, if we only had 1 we wouldnt get TC but we do as we have 4

The best thing is to use an online calculator, as the amount you will receive depends on so many factors. Depending on the area where you live, you will either go onto universal credit or income support

Do you have a partner?

Income support is unlikely if she has a partner who works

Use turn2us to put in your household income and expenses to get an idea. If your partner earns over £25k you are unlikely to get help, but if you work you may get childcare help

you would not pay childcare for 2 for another 8-9 months as DC has not been born yet. I would return to work. then another set of 9 months where you have them both at home whilst on mat pay. by the time you will return after 2nd maternity leave, DC1 would qualify for 30 hours childcare, i.e. you would only pay childcare for 1 DC. And childcare is a joint expense. presumably there is a dad somewhere too?

You'll need to put in a claim for universal credit, I'd do this sharpish as there is a 5 week waiting period.
It's not true that if you have a partner earning over £25k you won't be entitled to help. It's based on a number of different factors (number of children, housing costs, disabilities etc).

I think the op already has 2 dc and this is her third?