What benefits/ support might we get?

[Kona84]

Hi, i am expecting my first child in October.
I am in a perm full time job earning £21,400per year. after my tax/student loan and pension i take home £1484 a month.
My partner has been out of work for a while due to health related issues. he has tried to return to work in the last 2 years but it hasn't worked out. His PIP ended in January this year and he no longer qualifies.
We have a universal claim for him for job seekers but due to my income he gets between 0 and £84pm depending on if i worked a bit of overtime. this month he received £42

our plan is for him to be a Stay at home dad and for me to return to my WFH job after 6 months maternity leave.
I know we will get child benefit but ideally i wanted to be saving this in a savings account for the child.
I work flexi hours so i am confident i can maintain a 35 hour week when i return and am thinking of doing this over 4 days rather than 5.

I have used the benefit calculator on the turn 2 us website and although it says we might be able to get universal credit for the working tax element i am guessing - i am wondering if there is anything else i should be looking into. and also will my earnings then reduce the entitlement as it does now with his job seekers element?

I know some will judge why are we having a kid if one of us doesn't work but we have been together 18 years - we have wanted to start a family since we were 30 but life has not dealt us the best hand unfortunately. at 37 time i feel time is running out for us.

[quote Kona84]@MyDcAreMarvel thank you I have used that calculator and if I’ve done it right things are looking a bit better.

For my partner his physical issues are minimal now - he has bad days where he can’t walk too far or struggles to sleep. But PiP deemed that he was okay.
It’s his mental health that is the struggle- after a few years of health issues and then covid he has struggled socially and his anxiety and panic attacks have increased.
He started work in a bike shop a few months ago but his panic attacks meant some days he couldn’t get out of bed, he physically couldn’t function.
He has had counselling now and everyday gets a bit better with his medication so I’m hoping he might be able to manage a few hours a week of work just for his sanity but I can’t put that pressure on him right now[/quote]
It doesn’t sound like he’s going to be able to look after a child. So you’re going to have to factor in childcare costs to your calculations. I think you’re going to struggle financially for some years to come - at least until some funded childcare hours are available, or your child starts school. A person who was deemed unable to work and therefore awarded PIP is most likely unable to take care of a baby / toddler all day I’m afraid. Looking after one when in good health is pretty hard work!

Soontobe60 - people are not awarded PIP because they are unable to work, many many disabled people claim PIP and work.
If someone is unable to work because of their health then they need to hand in sick notes to Universal credit and be assessed for work capability. If Op's dh was awarded this then that would recognize that he is unable to work at all or severely limited in being able to work. If he was awarded this then I think they could get help with childcare costs if only op was working, but without this in place Uc would just think they had a stay at home parent and would not pay childcare costs.

Could your DH do some hours at the weekend or in the evenings. He won't have to pay tax if his earnings are under around 12K And there would be no child minding costs.

Didnt read your update. Sorry.

@Babyroobs

Soontobe60 - people are not awarded PIP because they are unable to work, many many disabled people claim PIP and work. If someone is unable to work because of their health then they need to hand in sick notes to Universal credit and be assessed for work capability. If Op's dh was awarded this then that would recognize that he is unable to work at all or severely limited in being able to work. If he was awarded this then I think they could get help with childcare costs if only op was working, but without this in place Uc would just think they had a stay at home parent and would not pay childcare costs.

The OP said he wasn’t able to work and will be providing fit notes from the GP for their UC claim. Which is why I mentioned about him not being deemed unfit for work and being awarded PIP.