Financial worries

[Oncology500]

Hi I am pregnant and have moved back home to my parents am not entitled to maternity pay as not been in my job very long, I will need to pay rent to my parents does anyone know what I can apply for from the government for me to pay rent and feed myself and baby and clothes. Thanks in advance

Hi, have you checked you aren't entitled to maternity allowance using the calculator on the gov website? You need to have worked any 26 weeks in the 66 weeks of your test period, and they don't need to be full weeks, so even if you worked say just one day, that would count as 1 week.

You would also likely be entitled to the sure start grant if in England or the best start grant if in Scotland which is worth more for a first baby.. A baby box too if you are in Scotland. You can apply for universal credit and when baby is born, child benefit.

www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/benefits-and-entitlements-to-claim-when-you-have-a-baby

Take a look here to see what might apply to you.

You should get maternity allowance through the government if you don't get maternity pay through your employer.

You need to go to the JobCentre and apply for Universal Credit. You probably won't be eligible for housing assistance to pay rent to your parents. You might get maternity allowance if you have enough NI contributions, and your UC will decrease as a result. And yes, you'll get a SureStart Grant, think it's about £500. Are Healthy Start vouchers still available? You might get those to buy some food items. But honestly, the days of the government paying everything because you have a child are sort of well and over.

Yeah, all UK councils are now UC service areas and new claims are UC. It's only the roll out for those on legacy benefits that's been momentarily paused.