Working parents entitled to anything?

[LauraBrown1]

Hello, I don't know if this is the best topic to post this under but I couldn't find anything else.
Me and my partner are expecting our first in August, he works 40+ hours a week and I do 16. We get no benefits and pay full rent, bills etc.
We struggle with money I'm not going to lie.
I heard something about a sure start maternity grant online but I'm not sure if we'll be elegible for it. I know a few working friends that are still with their partners and they couldn't get it.
Can anyone help me out? It says you're elegible if you receive child tax credits but I have no idea about that either.
I'm currently OMW to work so tomorrow I'm going to ring up my midwife and ask when I have more time.
Just seems as if you're better off not working and getting money handed to you.. 🙄

You did ask to be excused. You don’t get to dictate who posts on your threads here OP.

@ILoveMaxiBondi are you for real? Obviously you have commented on this thread to be rude when I'm asking for advice...
you're not helpful one bit.

August is a while away. Can you increase your hours now, so you can save, save, save? Then maybe get more maternity pay. You can try to go back on part time hours, but if you increase your hours now then you will be in a much better position.

Your partner should maybe put some feelers out for a new job. More reliable, more steady hours etc. Not always possible but there is no reason not to try.

Don't plan a life on benefits. Don't even think about planning one. Not when you have those other options available

@icannotremember 'around £200' he's not on a contract so his wage can vary each week depending on the hours he is working

You were quite clear in your opening post that he works 40+ hours a week. If his wages average out at 'around £200' his average working hours are far less than 40 hours/ week.

If you want an accurate idea of what, if any, benefit entitlement you have, you need to to have an accurate idea of your incomes. Not to share with us- what we know and think of you is irrelevant, obviously- but to be able to make sound plans.

Sit down and make an accurate record of your income and that of your partner over the past year or so. Use a good benefits calculator. Think about your income in the maternity period, whether you intend to return to work, and if so what childcare costs you will incur. It is literally impossible to tell someone what their benefit entitlement is when they don't give an accurate account of their income, and for a couple with one child, a difference of £70/ week in income will have a heck of an effect on any entitlement.

Depression is draining and awful, but you've decided to have a child. So you're going to have to work.

Your financial situation seems precarious before even adding a baby into the mix. Is dp looking for regular contracted work? 200pw is less than minimum wage.

Its a 16 hour contract so I can ask for overtime but wether or not I can get it is the problem. I work in retail and unfortunately after the Christmas period it dies down a lot with customers and the hours aren't always there

I'm going to use this income calculator to get a rough idea at what I'm looking at. I would never go jobless but I thought there would be some help for families with a low income. Such as housing benefit just to put towards the rent and such.
Like I said I'm new to all this and I know everyone's situation is different

Have you looked for a second job?

You're very quick to judge other people's work choices, what about your own?

Can you add in extra hours with another job before the baby comes so you can save? Is it possible for your partner to explore other job options as it sounds like he works a lot of hours for the wage he gets?

I believe there is a calculator on the government website which works out what you are entitled to - I think you can apply for statutory maternity allowance and you will also get child benefit.

I'm not judging anyone's work choices at all!

I don’t know much about how welfare works in this context but perhaps you could go to citizens advice or the government website to see if you qualify for rent support once the baby comes?

Just seems as if you're better off not working and getting money handed to you..🙄

Maybe the people you are bitter about being "better off" than you because they don't get the maternity grant don't have a partner working 40 hours and sharing the burden. Maybe they are disabled, have worse depression/circumstances than you. Maybe they lost their job? Worth thinking about before benefit bashing?...

OP, that wage won’t get you full SMP.........

Thanks @le42 I'm going to do that tomorrow

@CatWhisker benefit bashing?! This is from what experience I have with some friends and people I know. Example- Both don't work, don't have disabilities, entitled to a house paid for and such...

I'm only asking for some advice here and I feel as though people are taking it the wrong way. This is my first child and I'm glad I have both my family and my partners family to help us out when we need it. I just want to know I'm going to bring this child up and give it everything it needs without worrying constantly.
If people want to comment hurtful or negative stuff I'd rather you just didn't as I didn't make this thread to discuss my situation and be victimised

If your child grows up watching it's parents working rather than living off benefits, you will be doing a great thing for it and instilling work ethic in your child.

If you stay in retail, you can work up to senior, supervisor, management. A lot of retail places have management training. It could be a career, you don't need to stay minimum wage. If you leave so you can claim benefits then you lose that opportunity. Also, a life on benefits is not easy. When you've only got enough to scrape by, but you're home all day with no job and no extra money to do anything, and no extra money to take your kid out... that's not fun.

Rough calculation based on the figures you gave, OP, you’re looking at 39 weeks at £130 per week.

@ChrisjenAvasarala yeah I agree with you there. Im currently training for team leader role in my job which will jump up my hours but this all depends in when my training is over as it takes a while.
I couldn't not work so I agree with you there. Since I've been 16 we've both worked so I wouldn't want to throw everything away.

are you for real?

Yes, I am. what did you expect when you trotted out a lazy myth? Full agreement that all those benefit scum get everything handed to them on a plate?

Obviously you have commented on this thread to be rude when I'm asking for advice...
you're not helpful one bit.

No I actually clicked on it to post some links for you to calculate what you would be entitled to. Then I saw your ignorant remark and realised you needed more help to address your prejudices than your income. You’re welcome.

You may not be entitled to the "free" 15 hours when your child turns 2 as many people seem to think. It all depends on the benefits you are entitled to and the income you receive.

You will be entitled to child benefit and possibly a small amount of CTC once you go back to work. Aside from that, not much. Certainly not the surestart grant.
Welcome to the working poor OP, you’ll soon discover that no government gives a shit about you.
Best of luck

@ILoveMaxiBondi wow 'benefit scum' and that's the words that you just wrote down. Tut tut. Now who's being rude then?

And no need to say 'you're welcome' because believe me... I haven't thanked you for anything 😂

@Earlywalker thanks I just worked it out now using the calculator 😊

oh dear...