Am I entitled to anything?

[LouLikesLollies]

The last few years I have spent half the year in France working for a french company and half the year in the uk and have not been working. I came back to England in March and had my baby boy in June. I have not been working and want to spend as much time with my baby as I can so don’t plan to start working again for a couple of years. My partner works full time here in the uk and this is our first child. I’m a little worried about money and just wondered if anyone knows if I’m able to claim for anything at all or any kind of maternity allowance? TIA!

I'm not an expert, but had a friend in a similar situation and she found she wasn't able to claim mat pay.

Have you been keeping your national insurance topped up while you've been working in France?

No you can't get maternity pay. Do you claim child benefit? Depending on your partners salary you could try claiming universal credit.

Is your DP not supporting you and his DC financially whilst you are on maternity leave? It's concerning that you are worried about money if your DP is working fulltime unless he is on a low wage. If that's the case, then you should be able to claim UC top ups and CB of course.

You can look into maternity allowance but I'm not entirely sure you can apply now, after baby was born.
I'm not sure why you didn't investigate this sooner?

She won't get maternity allowance if she hasn't been working in the UK

I came back from working abroad when I was in the first trimester and wasnt entitled to anything. You still get free dental and back related physio for the first year post partum though.

It'll depend on your partner's income. I would also make sure you've looked at financial security as you could be in a precarious position if you're not married and not working if you separate.

Child benefit if your oh earns under 60k but no ma as you need employment history in UK in 66 weeks prior to your dc birth. Any Universal Credit will depend on your household income and savings.

Even after 60k you can claim that the national insurance component of child benefit but this doesn’t give you any money.

Are you and the child British citizens? Are you now full time in England?
I presume that you’ll be entitled to child benefit and maybe some kind of universal credit.
I don’t think you get maternity pay if you’re not working. I would also suspect that four months after birth is a bit late to start asking for it anyway! We’re you self employed?

Thanks for the constructive advice! Yes we’re British citizens and I was aware I wouldn’t be entitled to mat allowance due to my employment but wasn’t sure about anything else. Will definitely look into universal credit and child benefit. Thanks!