I need some housing, maternity allowance, new job advice

[Tokyo21]

Hey everyone, I am feeling a bit stuck and just reaching out for some advice. For background, I am 20 years old expecting my first baby. The pregnancy was unplanned (failed contraception) and I have already had one abortion and made a promise to myself to not have another so here I am writing this 19 weeks pregnant. I was at uni but withdrew due to financial problems, I was living with my mum who kicked me out when she found I was pregnant so I am now renting a room in a shared house. My rent is 750 a month, and I'm in London so I really can't afford any more than that right now. My dream was always to train as a pilot with the RAF but I realise this not possible until the baby is at least 3 months old. I got a job as a waitress, which I absolutely hate because my feet hurt so bad but im still grateful at least I have something. My baby daddy is not in the picture by the way. Anyways, I just started my waitressing job last week its 35 hours a week everyday 4-11pm, but when I had my interview I didn't tell my boss that I am pregnant because I thought that might lower my chances of getting hired. I have seen online that you have to work at least 26 weeks to be eligible for maternity allowance pay. so basically what I am confused about is a)when should I tell my boss im pregnant and b) in 26 weeks time my baby will already be born so that means I won't get any maternity allowance right? I also need some housing advice bcos I don't really wanna raise my baby in this shared house with strangers, Im aware Ill probably be eligible for universal credit if I won't get any maternity allowance but seriously dont want to live on such a tight budget so im stressing about money. has anyone got any advice for earning money on the side at home? thankyou so much for reading this far I know its super long.

Do you have to live in London? £750 for a room is very expensive and you could rent a whole flat to yourself elsewhere for the same amount?

Also have you checked the RAF pilot requirements and that you comply - they are medically very very specific

Have a look at the maternity allowance guidance notes then you’ll see when your test period is
I would look to move somewhere with cheaper rent as well

If you only do one thing, definitely leave london. It is much cheaper elsewhere and you won't have to raise your child in that polluted hell hole. I would be tempted to go on rightmove and search the cheapest places to rent in the uk and buy a one way train ticket. Seriously.

In terms of jobs at home I presume you are educated up to a level ish standard. Covid actually puts you in a slightly better position. You could check for generic admin and secretarial type jobs for large firms as a large number of companies now work from home, often only going in once a month. Have a think about what skills you have, could you tutor? There is plenty of demand due to covid aftermath. Or make items to sell on Etsy? It may make more sense to go self employed so you can choose your hours but would be harder work to get going.

Best of luck OP. Everything is manageable and you aren't afraid of putting in the graft by what you have said. You'll make it work.

You won't get statutory maternity pay but you should get mat allowance although this is very low.

I agree that you need to leave London, and if possible make amends with your mum so she can support you for a bit.

As much as I don't want to agree with the PPs I agree, leave London...there is nothing tying you there. I'm in the North East, the house next to mine was up for rent for £650, 3 bed, garden, off road parking...now I'm not saying move to the North East, but certainly outside of London will be significantly cheaper for you.

I’m £300 less than that for a 3 bed house, massive garden, driveway in my area of SWScotland.
To me that’s an insane amount of money for a ROOM.
I would definitely consider moving.

You need to tell your employer ASAP that you're pregnant so they can do a risk assessment and make sure you are safe.

I also think you need to move out of London and try and get an admin role where you can sit down or a supermarket job where you can sit. Supermarkets will be looking for Christmas staff and so it won't matter to them that you are pregnant as it's short term. You won't get SMP now but you will get maternity allowance which is almost the same. You should also apply for UC when you can. I don't know anything about applying for housing I'm afraid.

There's also the chicken and egg situation. I don't know what you should do first! Good luck to you. You seem determined and I hope you will be ok

OP maybe give Maternity Action a call to clarify your entitlement to maternity allowance and benefits? maternityaction.org.uk/advice-line/

You could also reach out to your Council's housing department to see where you stand with them. Depending on where you are, they may be able to help or not (or help later on). That will at least give you some clarity on where you stand.

Citizens Advice may also be able to advise on what help you might be able to get if you do choose to relocate.

If you are pregnant before starting work with an employer you aren’t eligible for SMP. Maternity allowance will depend on earnings during 26 out of 66 weeks pre-birth.

I second that you will need to tell your employer so they can carry out a risk assessment.

If you want some temp admin work, NHSP (bank staff for the nhs) are always in need of people - in most trusts a lot of the admin work is non patient facing. You can book shifts to suit you which can give flexibility around appointments.

Also becoming an RAF pilot is a tough road, with a lot of physical and health conditions. It sounds really trite, but the adverts are true in that you don’t need to be a pilot to fly in the raf. My wife is a raf doctor, and got funded through uni to study! They have admin roles and logistics roles or if you’re religious they even recruit chaplains - although these all still require a fitness test!

You claim maternity allowance from the job centre.
Did you have a job before this one? It doesn't have to have been immediately prior.
To be eligible you need to have worked 26 weeks within the 66 weeks before your baby is due. This is at any job, doesn't need to be continuous.
Count back from your babies due date, and check if you worked in any of those 66 weeks and add them together.
You need to have the pay slips to show that in at least 13 out of those 26 weeks you have earned at least £30 per week. (They ask you to send them along with your application)