Questions on benefits

[vittoria25]

Hello everyone !
I am new to this site and hope to find some lovely people to interact with . Let me introduce myself . I am an Italian girl who’s recently moved to the uk . My partner is British and have been together for 3 years . I am currently 16 weeks ( due on the 31th of January 2023) pregnant and worried sick about the cost of bringing up a child . Let me start by saying ( please don’t judge ) that , sadly ,i haven’t been able to work here yet , therefore i am not entitled to any benefits whatsoever as i havent been able to pay any NI contributions . My partner ( who works full time ) has a kid who’s gonna be 16 at the beginning of Jan 2023 . I was wondering if anyone could answer to this question. Would i be eligible to claim the « sure start maternity grant « anyway or should i wait until after she turned 16 or i am just not eligible ? Do you get any one off payment from the government for giving birth to your first child ?
I am so new to this country that any help would be highly appreciated .
Many many thanks to everyone

www.gov.uk/sure-start-maternity-grant/eligibility

You can claim child benefit once the baby arrives. Do you/your partner claim any other benefits?

You’d be best ringing citizens advice bureau, they will be able to help you more to work out what your are entitled to x

Thank you so much for your advice xx . No, we don’t claim any benefits x

I should also mention that , although i am not working , my partner has a high salary that doesn’t qualify for child benefits ( we just have additional expenses on top of the new baby ) . Xxxx

If you are not working then you should still claim child benefit and either take the money or opt out payment (opting out of payment is only worth doing if he earns over £60k). Claiming child benefit also ensures your child will get their NI number automatically around the age of 16.