Maternity leave

[Heartburn888]

Hello

Due to go on maternity at the end of the year and I was wondering if anyone could possibly help me with working out what I will be entitled to for this period I’ll be off?

I did join a group on Facebook called universal credit survivors (really helpful group) but I wasn’t confident enough to post within the group using my real name and messaged one of the admins and subsequently got banned for doing so as it goes against the group rules.

I have done a few calculators but get different amounts each time and I want to know for peace of mind really what I’ll be entitled to claim. I know I’ll get the £147 per week but what will I be able to claim in top up benefit from universal credit as the £147 a week is less than half my wages.

Thank you!

Have you been to Entitled to? It's a website that can help you calculate. However, it's based on needs not your salary - as you can imagine, there will be many women who earn multiples of mat pay but don't get a penny in benefits.

Yeah been on that and I struggle with it to be honest. I’ve been on gingerbread as well and actually called them for advice and not any clearer!

I know I can claim the following ( which is all under UC)
Maternity pay
Housing benefit ( not sure on how much I would be entitled to)
Child benefit
Single person claim amount - sorry don’t know the correct terminology for it

But the figures are just totally off for me!

Is it best to use the entitled to or the turn2us calculator as I have just checked my results and there’s a difference of like £1000 so I’m either doing it wrong ... or I’m just doing it wrong ha ha

Stressful!

How much is your rent, and are you private or social housing? Are you going to be a single parent? I'm assuming you don't have any other children or disabilities?

No other children no disabilities my rent is £550 pcm and it’s private housing and yes will be a single parent

Are you over 25?

Yes

You will need to know your local housing allowance (Google it) so I've done this calculation using mine, which is 109 per week.

Basic allowance 317.82
Child element 231.67
Rent allowance 472.33

Total UC entitlement = 1021.82

Minus 100 per week for SMP 433

Total UC payment per month = 588.82

Plus SMP 644.28

Plus child benefit 89.70

Total income during mat leave = £1322.80

Thank you so much you are an absolute star. This figure is about £100 off from what I worked out using the turn to ya calculator but you seem to know how it works. My LHA is £425

Thanks so much