Advice on benefits while on Mat leave

[rachelx94]

I'm pregnant for the first time and due January. I work full time but will be going on mat leave mid December and I get the stat mat pay which I believe is around 90% for the first 6 weeks and then £183 weekly from then (correct me if I'm wrong please!!)

My partner is a self employed scaffolder, no set salary as this varies depending on how many days and who he works with, it's paid into the bank during the weekdays work then weekend work will be cash in hand.

I'm stressing a bit about affordability once I go on mat leave, I private rent and have a car on finance plus standard bills which my partner will be able to help with but I wanted to get advice on what I could potentially be entitled for benefits wise as every little will help and I'm completely new to this so have no idea! 😩

Thank you! X

Do you live together?

We do, both our names are on the tenancy agreement which I've now realised will go against me for benefits etc

I do not believe that you are able to claim universal credit while on maternity leave but would recommend you look at entitledto.com for more accurate information.

Where did I say I'm looking for something to bail me out? I've worked since I was 16 so asked for advice if I'm entitled to any extra help...

You can, but wouldn’t always be entitled because SMP is taken into account when calculating what UC you may be entitled to and reduced by that amount.

OP because you live together you would have to do a joint claim and his earnings and any savings you both have will be taken into account.

It’s worth having a look on entitled to in order to check this though.

You should be entitled to child benefit unless your household income is very high.

I think child benefit is for everyone except if one person in your household earns over £50k per year. Currently it works out approx £101 per month for your first child.

I’m self employed like your husband, and sadly the maternity/paternity leave is none existent so just make sure he checks if he’s entitled to any paternity pay. As self employed I’m only entitled to maternity allowance at a massive £27 per week, so that’s very helpful 🙃

Yes, you need to do a benefit calculation like other posters have said. Make sure you enter your details for how they will be once the baby is here (eg when it asks about children, say yes you have a child and when it asks about your earnings put in what you will be getting on mat leave)

You absolutely can get universal credit in maternity leave.

If you're entitled to universal credit you will also be able to get a sure start grant of I think £500 to help you buy baby things (though you can't apply for it until you're actually getting universal credit)

Yes you can claim UC whilst on maternity

You can get the child element too. Its 200 and something a month. Through universal credit.

I hope you can get Universal Credit OP. Maternity pay here is just appalling. Someone on full time minimum wage will earn around £376 per week after tax. As you said, SMP after 6 weeks (6 WEEKS!) drops to £183 per month. Yes you will get child allowance, an extra £25.60 per week.

It is such a HUGE drop, even for someone on minimum wage, an even bigger drop for those on more. Yes, people should save and plan etc, but that is very, very hard for lower earners.

It is such a vulnerable time for women, if a woman is with an ungenerous or controlling man it must be very difficult.

@BlueRaincoat1 are you in the uk? You might have a typo if so, it’s not per month it’s £184 per week. Still hardly anything in the grand scheme of rent/bills.

Oh how annoying, yes I meant per week, thanks Blue2020

It is horrible! Luckily my partner will help me out with our household bills and towards rent but things like car finance etc just takes a lot each month and any help would be beneficial.

I agree. I think the mat pay is awful, I understand how expensive it would be to pay everyone a decent amount but 6 weeks at not even full pay is awful.

Worst thing is I probably wouldn't be able to afford to return full time as that means paying for nursery fees which I heard are stupidly expensive.

It will all work out somehow, need to be as positive as I can 😂

I think you need to have an honest conversation with your partner about pooling finances tbh - you're having a child, all money should be family money. Do you currently split things roughly equally? He'll probably have to contribute more to cover the household costs until you go back to work. Child benefit you should get and second PPs suggestion of the entitledto website for good advice! Congratulations on your pregnancy!

When working out your entitlement, make sure you include your partners income including the cash in hand work, otherwise you’ll be committing benefit fraud.