What benefits am i entitled to, if any?

[Flower088]

Hi everyone,

This is my first time posting and been following this forum since i found out i was pregnant.

I am currently 30 weeks pregnant and due to go on maternity leave 2nd March. My baby is due 16th March.

Ive been off from work for 3 months (sept till nov) due to hyperemesis and only received two weeks full sick pay.

I have been with my employer for 13 months and therefore i am only entitled to 6 weeks 90 percent of average earnings and then £140 a week.

Dont know whether you need to know but my salary is 37k and my husbands is 18k.

Being off work, we have struggled alot financially.

When i go off on mat leave, i will have a significant loss of earnings. I am not sure what i am entitled to in terms of benefits? This is my first child.

I rang CAB this morning and the lady i spoke to was quite sketchy but she goes i might be entitled to child and working tax credits, child benefit and sure start grant but not to apply until the birth of my baby as thats when i will have a significant drop in income otherwise if i apply now, i wont be entitled to anything as the benefits people will go on my income from last year.

Im confused, please help.

Thank you in advance!

Your definitely entitled to child benefit it's £20 something a week for your first child

My OH salary is 30k and mines 15k and we earn too much to be entitled to anything apart from child benefit everyone gets that

Everyone is entitled to the family benefit but the lady at CAB is wrong in applying for it after birth and saying you would have lower income. The HMRC check everything and your way over the threshold. I'm unemployed, not entitled to job seekers allowance as my contributions aren't high enough and partner ears under 20k after tax.

We get £82 every 4 weeks then 186 child tax credit.

You MAY be entitled to the sure start but that maybe means tested again so apply now. Everything must be in before child is 3 months old (unless changed rules again)

When we had DD I was on 12k and DP on £35k, we weren't entitled to anything except child benefit

Given your difference in wages, I would inform work you will be ceasing maternity leave after ten weeks, and starting shared leave and have your dp look after the baby.
Your dp will then get the statutory amount and you can work.

Thank you for your replies.

I have paid so much in the tax system and its heartbreaking to learn when i need some money back that i cant have any.

How do i apply for child benefit and tax credits?

I thought i would have been entitled to at least something as 140 a week is not much.

Your salary is too high and you will only be entitled to child benefit.

Can you go back to work earlier and your husband take shared leave?

I don't really understand why you think you would be entitled to something. When you are on maternity leave you are entitled to SMP and whatever extras your workplace has in place. Therefore you try and save something in advance or you learn to live very frugally when baby is here. Being on maternity leave is not like being made redundant or being disabled.

Would your DP take on childcare once you've recovered from the labour and you go back to work? That's what makes the most sense I think.

Agree with PP. DP needs to take majority of parental leave. Anything else is madness

You'll only be entitled to the £80 odd quid a month child benefit. I agree the most sensible course of action is to return to work asap and for your husband to take leave. Of course that may not seem appealing, especially if you hoped to breastfeed, so otherwise you need to do some sums and see how long you can cope with you being off. Can you save up and do some overtime now?

Apply for tax credits and see if you get any. Do you own your house? If not you would probably be entitled to housing benefit, but the whole system is now under Universal Credit, so you would need to apply for that I think.

My OH salary is 30k and mines 15k and we earn too much to be entitled to anything apart from child benefit everyone gets

I wish we did, my husband earns too much.

Hate to say it, OP, but you won’t be getting 90% of your usual salary either. By my reckoning your sick leave was at exactly the worst point.

hasnt your employer writtento you with the figures?

'I have paid so much in the tax system and its heartbreaking to learn when i need some money back that i cant have any. '

Heartbreaking? Taxes are not a savings account. They go to pay for vital infrastructure. You'll need to go back to work sooner and your DP take parental leave. Plenty of us had to have short mat leaves due to finances. That's life.

Hi Op, we’re you working/getting paid in the 15th week before baby’s due date? I can’t figure it out from your post and dates, but just in case you aren’t aware your SMP allowance is calculated based on an average of your earnings leading to that week - not your normal annual salary, so if you have been on sick pay/no pay for a while that may be affected.

More info here

www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/statutory-maternity-pay-how-it-worked-out

For the other benefits, to work out what you may be entitled to there is an easy to use website here
www.entitledto.co.uk
That will show you what you are entitled to and tell you how to apply. You can put in fictional info (eg baby’s birthday) to get a projection rather than real info.

As pp’s have said, unfortunately I doubt you will be entitled to anything above the standard child benefit. The fact you have earned well and put a lot in only means you should have had the chance the budget and save for your baby, unlike those on low incomes.

I calculated the relevant period as being Sept and Oct.

Yes i will be getting paid 15 weeks before the babys due date. I have has debts so the majority of money was going towards that and the lil i had left i saved for a deposit on the new house.

I was told at the age of 21 that i would never be able to conceive otherwise i would have saved.

I have paid so much in the tax system and its heartbreaking to learn when i need some money back that i cant have any.

That's not how it works. Your taxes are what has paid for you to have all your maternity care for free, not leave hospital with a bill of many thousands. Are you planning to send the baby to state school later and use your 15-30 free hours of childcare at 2/3? Where do you think that's funded from?

As expat says, if you want a savings account you have to take out a savings account. The government guarantees you and your child will have a basic roof over your head and food to eat, but beyond that it's up to you. You have been making a good salary, so if you can't afford to stay off work you will have to go back. Most of us are facing a sharp drop in income while on statutory maternity pay - that's what saving before the birth, rigorous budgeting, and if necessary going back earlier than we'd like are for.

You may possibly be entitled to child tax credits while you're on mat leave since the first £100 a week is disregarded for the calculation - really depends on your overall joint income though.

I agree with everyone who suggests that you share parental leave. I earn a lot more than my husband, so he will take three months off while I go back to work, because it’s more sensible to lose his salary than mine.

I can’t imagine there would be any welfare help for us if I just decided to take longer mat leave, and essentially choose to have a lower salary coming in.

It’s maybe not the ideal choice for everyone, but having done it this way before - it is brilliant having the option to share leave like this.

Yes i will be getting paid 15 weeks before the babys due date.

Entitlement to SMP is calculated by taking the average pay across either the 8 weeks or 2 months prior to the 15th week before expected delivery.

Baby is due in week commencing 11th March.
15th week before is 19th November.

If you were sick and not being paid in Sept and Oct you may not be entitled to SMP at all and may have to claim MA.

What has your employer said?

If your 30 weeks pregnant but been off sick for 12 weeks, that leaves 18 weeks when you knew u were pregnant. 4 and half months pay, did you put anything aside?

Its utterly shit the £140 a week i agree but soon as i fell pregnant i looked into this and started saving.

Everyones entitled to £82 a month for first child which will cover nappies and formula if u plan on bottle feeding.

Tittygolightly ... thank you for your helpful reply. I went back to work around 22nd Nov but HR have given me their payment spreadsheet and on their it says 6 weeks earning - average up 90 percent and from 5th april 140 quid a week.

I have got money saved to the side after paying my loans/debt back but its not alot.

I take it i just go to job centre to apply for tax credits and child benefits?

Youve been so helpful guys, thank you

You should get tax credits and child tax credits.

Phone HMRC and ask for a claim pack.

Its a bit of a ball ache applying as you first have to apply with your earnings from the previous year so it will come back saying your not entitled to anything however you then call them back and tell them your actual earnings for this year. Don't forget HMRC go April to April and disregard the first £100 of your SMP when calculating your earnings.

It happened to us, I'm on 30k, DP on 16k and I got about £70 a week in TC. I'm back in work now so it's been stopped but was a lifesaver at the time. Don't forget to let them know if you decide to return early to avoid an overcharge.