Childcare/benefits

[emjaylu]

Hi everyone, i am due beginning of October 2015, i wanted to ask if anyone had any advice/experience they could advise me with?

I currently work, however i am not entitled to any maternity pay as i haven't been here long enough, i wanted to go back to work a ear after baby is born.

My only concern is childcare.

I work 4 days on and 4 days off on rotation but i work 8am-8pm over those 4 days so getting someone to look after the baby for that long is impossible.

I could change my hours to 9am-2pm or 9am-4pm but im not sure where i would send the baby, would i have to pay? Would i get help paying?

I will be 20 when i give birth.

I currently earn £270 a week after tax for a 48 hour week (42 hours paid, rest is breaks)

My boyfriend earns the same and he will still work here when baby is born so this will be our only income....

Help? Advice?

Once you're 28 weeks/30 weeks you can apply for the Sure Start Maternity Grant which i've just applied for, its £500.

Im not very clued in as i haven't worked for some time, but i think you can claim a Maternity Allowance off the state if not from your employer, but im sure someone else with more knowledge will pop along with better info!

I'm sure you'll be entitled to working tax credits and help with childcare when you go back to work. Check out taxcredits.hmrc.gov.uk/Qualify/DIQHousehold.aspx

Op you can't claim the sure start maternity grant while pregnant as you aren't on benefits. If you are entitled to tax credits after baby is born you can claim up to when the baby is three months old.

I doubt you would get childcare help through tax credits on a post tax combined income of 28k thats a decent amount for one child. You will be able to claim through the government new childcare scheme up to 2k a year help.
While you are on maternity you should get some child tax credits and your dp some working tax credits.