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Original poster

Baby/Entitlement

19 replies

DottyDotty91 · 25/05/2021 19:14

Bit of an odd one

I’m in my 30’s, worked since I was 16, and For the last 4 years I have worked for the NHS on the staff bank (therefore I’m not permanent!). I have always worked full time. At the beginning of the year I found out I was pregnant.. I started to suffer with hyperemesis, I still am suffering badly (despite medication) and since January I have probably worked a total of 1 month. I am constantly tired, sick and unable to work properly and not forgetting I also care for my mother (who lives with me). I’ve never claimed anything in my life however due to how sick I am I don’t know how many more times I can force myself to try and go in and so I plan on going off at 28 weeks (government advice for pregnant women). However as I’m bank and not permanent I’m not entitled to anything

I’m just wondering if anybody knows what I can claim?

I’ve used Entitledto and i think carers allowance is the only thing I’m allowed which is £67 a week.

Just seems a bit crap, always paid taxes and worked full time, it’s the government advising us to finish at 28 weeks, but I’m then expected to survive on £67 a week and that’s only because I happen to care for my mum. I could take maternity leave early but even then that’s only £151 a week and I would lose my carers allowance.

So not only am I stressing about forcing myself into working, I’m also stressing about money

OP posts:

crispywaffle · 25/05/2021 19:17

You may qualify for maternity allowance if you've worked enough weeks. That's around £150/wk which is the same as statutory maternity pay - it's not enough you're right, but it's what most companies choose to pay.

KeyboardWorriers · 25/05/2021 19:23

Surely that's the flip side of choosing to do bank work rather than taking a permanent job?

Original poster

DottyDotty91 · 25/05/2021 19:32

@KeyboardWorriers I chose to do bank work to work around caring for my mother.

@crispywaffle thank you. I need to find out for certain whether claiming SMP will stop my carers allowance.

OP posts:

Dyrne · 29/05/2021 14:18

When you checked your entitlement did you use your current average earnings (working full time) or have you experimented with putting in less earnings, say if you only felt well enough to pick up 1 or 2 shifts a week?

Also If you care for your mum have you checked if she’s entitled to anything?

Babyroobs · 29/05/2021 14:36

You would be able to claim Universal credit as long as you don't have savings over 16k. Do you have a partner ? if so then his wages would be taken into account. You may be able to claim maternity allowance but that would be taken off Uc pound for pound anyway so you would need to see which worked out best for you currently.
If your mum is in receipt of PIP ( daily living component ) or attendance allowance then you could claim a carers element on the Uc which would increase the amount you receive as long as you are caring for her for 35 hours a week or more.

Babyroobs · 29/05/2021 14:37

[quote DottyDotty91]@KeyboardWorriers I chose to do bank work to work around caring for my mother.

@crispywaffle thank you. I need to find out for certain whether claiming SMP will stop my carers allowance.[/quote]
How do you claim carers allowance whilst working full time. The cut off for wages id £128 a week.

Babyroobs · 29/05/2021 14:41

[quote DottyDotty91]@KeyboardWorriers I chose to do bank work to work around caring for my mother.

@crispywaffle thank you. I need to find out for certain whether claiming SMP will stop my carers allowance.[/quote]
You can't claim SMP as that is paid by your employer and you have said you don't qualify. Maternity allowance is paid by the government so I would imagine it would be an overlapping benefit with carers allowance, but as with my post above if you work full time I dont understand how you are getting carers allowance or have you only just started claiming ?
Your best bet is to claim universal credit because then when you have the baby you will just add the baby to your claim. You will need to claim UC when the baby is born anyway to get the child element unless you are already on tax credits?

LIZS · 29/05/2021 14:46

You may still be entitled to SMP if you have worked for same employer as before pg and earned over the threshold during the qualifying weeks. If not, claim MA. Iirc neither affects Carers Allowance.

MyDcAreMarvel · 29/05/2021 15:01

@Babyroobs the op is considering claiming carers allowance if she stops working, rather than currently claiming.

Babyroobs · 29/05/2021 16:22

[quote MyDcAreMarvel]@Babyroobs the op is considering claiming carers allowance if she stops working, rather than currently claiming.[/quote]
Aah ok. If claiming carers allowance then that would be deducted pound for pound from Universal credit which you will need to claim when you have the baby.

Babyroobs · 29/05/2021 16:28

You can claim Universal credit currently, standard element and carers element, or you can see if Maternity allowance and carers allowance work out more. However once you have your baby if you want to claim money for the baby you would need to claim Universal credit but the Maternity allowance and carers allowance would both be deducted from that.
Speak to CAB to see what works out best for you now.

Babyroobs · 29/05/2021 16:31

@LIZS

You may still be entitled to SMP if you have worked for same employer as before pg and earned over the threshold during the qualifying weeks. If not, claim MA. Iirc neither affects Carers Allowance.

www.bing.com/search?q=does+maternity+allowance+overlap+with+carers+allowance&cvid=e68cbb313aba421ab6

This seems to suggest MA and carers allowance are overlapping benefits.

Original poster

DottyDotty91 · 30/05/2021 02:23

Thank you everyone!

Just to confirm I currently DO NOT claim anything, never have because I’ve always worked full time and worked around caring for my mum.

Yes I do have a partner. We are waiting to move in with each other but that won’t be until later on this year so obviously when this happens I won’t be claiming anything. Of course he will help out, he’s extremely supportive and I don’t question this, it’s just that maternity allowance only just covers my bills etc so until me and him do move in together I’m just trying to see what (if) I am legally entitled to whilst off on maternity leave

It’s all very confusing. I think my best bet is to contact CAB. To be honest I can’t see it being that much so I’ll just have to get by.

OP posts:

iusedtohavechickens · 30/05/2021 19:32

Just be aware that you cannot claim maternity pay and carers allowance at the same time. I went back to work after two weeks because of this! X

RedHelenB · 31/05/2021 16:42

Could your partner help out at all?

Overthebow · 31/05/2021 16:59

Is your partner your baby's dad? He should be supporting you if so.

Cnic29x · 07/04/2022 19:14

Sorry to just on this… does anyone know how long it takes for carers to come back? I was in the same position where carers got cancelled out as had maternity allowance, I’m now back at work for 6 weeks and even though I’ve informed them it hasn’t returned , any advice appreciated x

Babyroobs · 07/04/2022 19:19

@Cnic29x

Perhaps give them a ring to check the claim hasn't been cancelled.

Cnic29x · 07/04/2022 19:29

It’s just suspended I called them and they said they would contact me if they needed too… just wondered how other people had previously got in with it x

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