What can I apply for? (In England)

[LCP22]

Hi, I'm 20 years old and currently pregnant at 34+4. My maternity leave starts on 21st October where I'll be paid for 39 weeks maternity leave but I'm hoping to take the full 52 weeks; whether that will go to plan or not I don't know. My little one's due on 21st of November but my midwife believes he will be sooner.

I'm just wondering what benefits I'm entitled to really. My partner is a student and also works 23 hours a week, we private rent a 3 bedroom house together.

Whilst on Maternity leave it's going to be a bit of a struggle. We're not really sure what we can do in this situation so just wondering what extra help we're entitled to? Thanks in advance! :)

Child benefit and maybe Universal credit although the UC would depend on how much rent you pay and smp etc. If your partner gets a student loan that woukd be taken off any UC entiltlement.

Contact citizens advice they will help you make sure your getting everything your entitled too x

@Babyroobs Thank you, he gets student loans every term but UC have said that shouldn't effect my entitlement. Rent is £750 a month so not sure if I'd get any help towards that or not.

@Nicola1892 I'll give Citizens Advice a call, thanks for the advice! Xx

On a joint claim for you and your partnwr his student loan will reduce any UC entitlement pound for pound after a certain amount each month is disregarded. On UC you will get couples element , rent element then child element when your baby is born. Then your materity pay plus his wages plus his student loan will reduce that amount. Your rent element will be based on the lical housing allowance in your area if private renting.

If UC said that his atudent loan wont affect your entitlement clearly does not have a clue what they are talking about. Sorry but this is quite common with DWP advisers. Your best bet is CAB as others have advised.

Everyone claiming UC gets a rent element if you pay rent. However until your baby is born that would only be based on the one bedroom local housing allowance for your area. Rent element is added to your couples element but then the whole award is reduced by wages / smp and student loan. Once your baby is born you will get a work allowance which means that the first £287 a month of wages is disregarded before wages reduce your UC by 63p for each pound you earn. Then student loan is taken off pound for pound. I doubt you will receuve any help from UC until your baby is born and maybe not anything even then but worth a try.

@Babyroobs Thank you for commenting! I'm not worried about money right now, but when my maternity pay kicks in on Statutory pay that's when it's gonna be a bit of a struggle. Thanks for the advice! :)