SMP and tax credits no more

[Puchon]

Hi all,

I really need advice. I am currently working full time and expecting a baby. I am also single. I can take maternity leave in mid march and was told today I would be entitled to 90% of pay for 6 weeks then smp. I work in a school so wouldn't be back again until September if I do go on maternity leave say the end of March
I know my date for leaving could be later but my pregnancy is high risk and my baby has downs, I've already been told to prepare for her coming any day from 28 weeks and that is in 2 weeks!! Already I am clocking up 2 hosp appts per week and that's not including midwife visits.
Anyway after the 6 weeks of pay I go on smp of £145 per week, that would literally cover my rent and no more, so I had a brain wave to call tax credits as I would technically still be in a job. I was really upset to realise that tax credits no longer handle new cases and I am so worried as to what to do. They told me to try universal credits but couldn't give me advice on if I could get it on SMP (as I would be on maternity and due back in September I'm not unemployed as such) however I would be on a very low income. Nothing at all if I took rent, that doesn't include other bills.
Does anyone know if people on SMP can get something similar to WTC via universal credits and what even approx I would get? Obviously I wouldn't be applying until the 6 week pay is up my work need to know when I will be going and I can't give them a date until I work out if I could cope on SMP /Universal credits or in my scarier thoughts SMP alone
Any advice at all would be great, thanks in advance

You can deffo get Universal credit on SMP as its just replaced tax credits. Universal credit should in theory do the same as all the other credits it has encompassed.

use the website entitled to and it will give you a good indication to what your likely to get on universal credit. you can apply for it even when on smp.

If you work in a school, end your maternity leave in the last school week in July, not September. Then you get paid throughout the summer holidays.

I'm going off soon and will be on SMP, when I put in entitled to it came up with nothing other than child benefits. It actually looked like because I've been in employment I'm not entitled to anything even though as OP said SMP is a pittance

I echo what Crystal says. Definitely put your return to work date as the first date of the school holidays so your full pay recommences.

Please do not worry, I remember with my first, I had just started a new job and about 2 weeks later found out I was pregnant! You will not go without, if you're on low income, the government will boost it somewhere for you so your rent will be covered... housing benefit, tax credit, universal credit. Also, in the UK, we have a 'living allowance' you will be fine. Try to relax and enjoy your pregnancy! Fortunately in this country, we have a fantastic system. Far too many people take advantage of it! For people in your situation and the situation I found myself in 8 years ago, it's fantastic. Relax, everything will be ok x

If this is your first baby i think you are also entitled to apply for a sure start grant of £600, £300 If it's a second or third baby. It's a lump sum you get that you don't have to pay back. You can apply after 24 weeks into your pregnancy up until your baby is 6 months old.