After the baby is born?

[hlfayers]

Hey everyone
I posted this on money matters but you don't get much response on there..
I just got my claim sorted for income support due to being unable to work because I am 31 weeks pregnant.
My question is once the baby is born will they stop my payments because I'm no longer pregnant?
I'm a single pregnant woman and will be a single mother,
Thank you

Did you work up until recently?

I stopped work at 29 weeks pregnant and can't go back to work when she's born as I'm going to be a single parent

Plenty of single parents work.

Can't go back to work when she's born as I'm going to be a single parent

What's that got to do with the price of fish? Lots of single parents work. Lots of couples have children and they both work.

You could put the baby in childcare if you go back to work part time and get help with it im not sure about income support as I've always been lucky enough to be in a job but im sure you wilk get help from benefits x

As a single parent, you are entitled to Income Support until your child turns 5, or until you start working more than 16 hours a week. It's all explained here:
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/help-if-on-a-low-income/income-support/before-you-claim-income-support/check-if-you-can-get-income-support/

After the baby is born you will also be entitled to Child Benefits and Child Tax Credits.

If you want to know how much you will be entitled to and/or want help to apply, you could contact or visit your local Citizens Advice.

Are you renting at the moment? Do you get Housing Benefit?

Actually, if you were working until recently, you might be entitled to SMP or Maternity Allowance for 39 weeks (about 9 months). Have you checked?

Again Citizens Advice can help with that if you need it.

If you're entitled to income support now you will still be entitled to it after the baby arrives

Yes, I lost my job 10 days before I was entitled to SMP so I went on Income Support and stayed on it until my son was 2. It just continues, you don't have to do anything.

Yes you can still get it when baby arrives, my friend did the same thing. I can't believe some replies. Heaven forbid a new mother wants to spend time with her newborn baby and is in a tough situation because of unseen circumstances! You can go back to work when you feel ready to leave your child, as living on benefits is nobodies ideal life but sometimes life throws you lemons and you make some shitty lemonade until you make better lemonade. It should be enough to keep you above water until you go back to work

OP did you choose to leave work at 29 weeks? It would have made more sense to stay in employment and benefit from Statutory Maternity Pay.