Maternity leave benefits

[Librababy3]

Hello,

Wondering if anyone can help me please? I’m due to have my first baby next month. I am just wondering what benefits/government help would I be entitled to?

ive sent off a claim for maternity allowance. I work full time but due to recently changing jobs, I had to claim SMP from the government. I am no longer with the babies father so won’t get help from him.

Is the £150 per week SMP all I can claim?

Thank you

When the baby is born and registered you can apply for child benefit which is about £87 every 4 weeks. As it's maternity allowance and I'm assuming no package from your employee, you could put a claim in for universal credit aswell and see if they will help out whilst you are on maternity leave. Other than that, there is nothing.
Congratulations on the baby x

@lilroo87 thank you so much! X

Your baby's father also needs to contribute, if he won't voluntarily then open a case with the CMS

www.gov.uk/child-maintenance-service

You can try for Universal credit but maternity allowance is deducted pound for pound from universal credit so if the MA is higher than your total UC entitlement you will not receive anything. I think the deciding factor would be if you have rent to pay ? As above you should make a claim for child maintenance once the baby is born. You could also maybe apply for the sure start maternity grant if you are eligible to Universal credit. this is a one off £500 payment.

@PatriciaHolm @Babyroobs thank you both, I will look into it :)