Eternal student entitled to any benefits if becoming a parent?

[PennilessStudent]

Hello,

I'm 3 years into a PhD, and although I was hoping to finish around Easter, my supervisor has just had a nervous breakdown and the department can't offer me an alternative for now, so it looks like it might be another year.

However, I have a sneaky suspicion that I might be pregnant. This wasn't quite how I planned it - no job, no house etc etc. I have studied straight through since school, other than the occasional bit of teaching, so I've not paid enough NI contributions to qualify for most things. Would I be entitled to any form of maternity pay, or not because I've not worked? Is it too late to get a job just to entitle me to some benefits?

Any thoughts welcomed.

I had dd at the end of my second year PhD. You don't get any kind of maternity allowance or pay as you are student rather than staff. You do get child benefit.

Can you try to complete as best you can by Easter anyway and could they find someone at another uni to read drafts? (My supervisor has very little input and only has a quick read through draft chapters while I'm in his office.)