What benefits would we be entitled to

[misskatie90]

Hey just looking for some help.
I am pregnant with my first child, 14 weeks. Me and my partner both currently work full time we earn about 46k between us after tax. We have a mortage which is quite pricey 866, then all the bills on top. We manage fine at the moment and have never worried about money. When baby comes along I will receive statutory maternity pay which is fine but it's a big cut. Will we be entitled to any benefits, any help? This is our first time we are very new to this so any help would be great. We are saving every penny at the moment.
Thanks in advance

Use the benefits calculator at www.turn2us.org.uk/ but if your income is even half of your household income currently then no, you won't be entitled to anything.

We earn roughly the same amount and I’m only getting statutory mat pay. You will only be eligible for child benefit which is around £21/week. You can claim once baby is born x

Child benefit only, which everyone is entitled too. It’s about £80 a month I think.

Child benefit. You and your partner have time to figure out how the pair of you will make up for the temporary deficit in your income.

Child benefit. Nothing else I wouldn't have thought. Especially as you're still employed and on a fairly good combined income.

Yep, nothing else but child benefit.

You're earning a fair amount!

Child benefit only.....

You want benefits when you’re earning 46k combined? However will you feed yourselves

You want benefits when you’re earning 46k combined? However will you feed yourselves

Yep…🤷🏻‍♀️

Me and my fiancé earn a similar amount to you and I'll only be getting statutory mat pay (first few weeks are enhanced by my employer) but the only thing we can claim is child benefit.
I've been saving every month since we found out so that I can top the statutory pay up.
Although it's not always been as much saved as I have wanted as we have also been buying everything we need

You are absolutely right to ask, consider and plan. No need for any snippy responses. If I remember right they give you child benefit forms at hospital so that's at least in the bag. There are the £10 a day threads on here which might help if you have an easy baby and need to supplement your income. Or you could go back earlier to work depending on your circs.

You could speak to your mortgage lender and see what options you have

• mortgage holiday or
• pay interest only

Then do some over payments when your back at work perhaps

When you get back to work your childcare bill will be a big chunk unless you have family to help too but then you can register for the tax free childcare

You can get a card from your midwife for some free dental treatments (if you can get a dental appointment!). And I think scripts are free.

What else are you expecting other than stat maternity pay? I would have thought you'd have been saving up to have a decent nest egg before TTC? I realise this isn't always the case, and not all babies are planned, but also unsure why you'd think you are entitled to anything?

I bought this book years ago, cheap off ebay. It had lots of great ideas on what you really need to buy brand new, and what you can get 2nd hand, maternity wear etc. Its pretty old now, but worth a read.

Babynomics: Moneysaving tips for smart parents:

I think you need to lower your expectations!! Benefits are for the needy, you're on a fair amount and will surely be returning to work?

Child benefit

Surely the point is that they won’t be on £46k during maternity leave, if she only qualifies for statutory maternity pay (which is paltry)? We don’t even know how the £46k is split between them. No need for shirty replies.

@RickiTarr

Surely the point is that they won’t be on £46k during maternity leave, if she only qualifies for statutory maternity pay (which is paltry)? We don’t even know how the £46k is split between them. No need for shirty replies.

Temporarily, depending on how long a leave she is taking, but threshold for UC among couples is very low. A LOT of people would be quite staggered to find out just how low it is. And it does not cover mortgages at all, there's no housing benefit element for mortgage-holders. There's still, despite UC having been around for over 7 years and all new claims since December, 2018, being UC ones, this persistent paradigm, as illustrated by the OP that benefits are abundant and generous. Sadly, this is far from true, hasn't been for a while, and the OP and her partner need to plan accordingly.

Me and my partner both currently work full time we earn about 46k between us after tax. We have a mortage which is quite pricey 866, then all the bills on top.

It's only your income that is considered for benefits. Nobody is interested in your bills unless you are low income and claiming council tax/housing. We all have bills.

Once on Mat pay what will you’re family income be? I think you may be entitled in the interim depending on how long you take off.

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

Once on Mat pay what will you’re family income be? I think you may be entitled in the interim depending on how long you take off.

Definitely not while the partner is earning a full wage

What if the partner is a very low earner?

It depends on how the income is split between you - if you are by far the main earner and your partner earns NMW and you drop to SMP, and you have no savings, there is a (very) small chance that you may be entitled to some UC.

Someone mentioned entitledto upthread, put your details in to that.

Other than that - child benefit @ £21.15/week only.

My partner and me are on low wages, both work for NHS. I work 16h (and look after our 3yo) and he works full time. Our combined income is around 25k a year. We get UC of around £700 a month currently but I am 20w pregnant and we should get an extra £240 a month after baby is born, roughly. Just to give you a rough idea of what you'd need to earn to get anything.

Your mortgage is cheap compared to rent.

Mortgages don't tend to include bills.

You can calculate benefits yourself though I doubt you'll be entitled to anything bar child benefit.

Did you not consider finances before deciding to have a child?