parenting as a single mother

[HA22]

Hi all, I have just entered the second trimester of my pregnancy so still early days but I have separated from my husband and I don't see myself getting with someone else before the baby is born (august) or him so it looks like ill be a single mother.
I am currently couch hopping with family (only recently separated) while I am looking for a property (1 or 2 bed but under 600pcm).

I was wondering if anyone had any advice on what I can do to prepare myself for my next step in life (living independently for the first time, becoming a single mother etc).

I currently work full time in the nhs (band 5, monthly net take home of 1.6k) and will become a band 6 (net take home around 1.9k) before I give birth.
I am aware I will be entitled to a 25% discount on council tax as I will be a single occupant and I have set myself a limit of around £575pcm on rent. I know I will be entitled to £20 a week child benefits.
I have a relatively big family who I spend friday evenings and most weekends with.
In terms of child care however, I don't think anyone will be available to watch my child weekly for a day or so (post my 1 year maternity leave).
I will get paid my nhs maternity leave and SMP as normal.
I don't think the childs father will be very willing to provide any money or child care once the child is here so I don't want to rely on that but if he does that will help.
I also have between 5-10k in savings which I'm hoping I can save some more before baby is here.
I also have a part time job doing deliveries on some weekends or evenings (super flexible so when I am free I try to fit some deliveries in). I am 22 so still quite young and fit. I was thinking about taking out my first credit card before I move in so I can at least improve my credit score while I start paying rent, deposit, buying furniture etc.

Am I entitled to anything else e.g. benefits or help? What can I do to make the next few years easier for me and the child?
or just any advice from anyone who has been in this position before?

Contact the child maintenance Service when baby is born

you will likely get tax credits or universal credit towards the cost of childcare if you are eligible. I think it covers 80% of costs depending on your income of course.

Also get yourself on the council housing waiting list ASAP. Then when you get accepted you can try applying for houses. It takes time but if you can get a very reasonable rent it will be worth it.

Is your husband the child's father? If so, then whilst divorcing you will be able to get advice from a solicitor re financial support etc.

Visit citizens advice and they can advise you on what exactly you are entitled to in benefits and help you apply for everything.

If you are going to put your husband on the birth certificate he will have financial obligation to pay towards his child.
You may want to cut him off by not adding him to avoid future claims to the child whilst not being there for it when he was needed.
Think about it carefully.

You will be able to apply for UC but savings over £6k will reduce your entitlement.
They will pay up to £646 or 80% of childcare whichever is lower.
Apply for housing association properties or get on your local council register.

Get on the council list & housing association as homeless/sofa surfing. Keep looking for private tendencies.
You don’t have to put the father on birth cert to claim child maintenance from the father once the baby is born.
Start looking at childcare, they’re very busy. Get your name down.
Regards to UC, couldn’t say at this point what your entitlement would be as you don’t know your housing costs. Or what your capital will be. But it is likely you’ll get some.

@Fere

If you are going to put your husband on the birth certificate he will have financial obligation to pay towards his child. You may want to cut him off by not adding him to avoid future claims to the child whilst not being there for it when he was needed. Think about it carefully.

She can claim whether the father is on the bc or not

I didn't realise you can claim financial support of the father who isn't named on the birth certificate. Good to know that @RedCandyApple

I am expecting . Baby due august, I’ve my 12wk scan in 3 weeks and if all is well I’ve started to worry about my finances.

my partner died at Christmas. He left no money as he was skint before he died. The trade had slowed over Christmas and I was keeping us afloat till January when he had work starting.

i did not expect single motherhood and I am totally under prepared and worried about my finances. I live in an area I want to stay in but to apply for social housing you have to have been in the area for 5 years. I refuse to go back to my hometown as it’s rough, I’d be living next to drug addicts.

I have a job, full time, nhs band 7 £42K gross which equates to take home of 2300 a month. The area I live you a 1-2 bed is from 900-1300 a month. My current outgoings as a single person come to £1900! So I can get by now but what happens when a baby comes. My job is 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday, I often work over that in the winter when staff is short and there is high patient load . I have family that could do 2 days a week probably. I am entitled to a year maternity so I can take that but my friend seems to think I earn too much to be entitled to any benefits. So either I stay in my band 7 Job and after a year my baby will spend all its time with other people while I likely pay the outrageous costs.

has anyone else been in a similar position . And what did you do. I have no idea what im doing , I just wish my partner was alive and we’d have been ok x

@Stefclif12 call DWP and talk through your situation with them. You might be entitled to some of these:

www.gov.uk/widowed-parents-allowance

www.gov.uk/bereavement-support-payment

Also apply for tax credits - don’t go by what your friend says - you’re entitled to extra bits as a single parent compared to what a couple would qualify for - apply and let HMRC decide.

If you earn too much you can use the tax free childcare scheme to save 20% on childcare costs.

Dont get into another relationship

You have good support and are already being a fab mum for preparing all this.

Is there no way you can go part time for a year or so. If you are using paid childcare you might find yourself better off, i did. Nhs should have a family friendly policy.

Immediately apply to child maintenance once baby born and put him on birth certificate .

Its sounds to me like you are on track to be ok my love 💓

If you reduce your hours its likeky you will get housing benefit as you dont have a mortgage, i didnt but do the entitled to check using full time wage and part time. You really need this concrete information.
Childcare costs are a killer.

Surely you don't really think you're going to be able to work two jobs as a single parent with a new baby? You need to be realistic

Of they are married he has PR regardless of birth cert

thanks, I’m considering on returning Maternity leave when that times comes to go back to band 6 and reduce my hours so, a, I have more time with the baby. The baby only has one parent already and the thought of spending all its time separated from me in childcare seems unbearable. Then maybe reducing my hours will give me more entitlement on benefits. I mean I’ve worked my entire life and more so I’m not going to miss out on my baby’s baby/infant years to work 40+ hours a week , life is short.