What benefits could I get??

[Alocin74]

I am very near to leaving my partner. We have an 8 month old baby and I wondered if anybody knew what I could get in benefits for housing etc.

I am on maternity leave until 1st October and then will be returning to work on 3.5 days per week (28 hours) but my salary will by no stretch pay for rent and bills!!

The house I live in is in Surrey with my partner and the property is his, so I have nowhere to go and no furniture, just me, my baby and our clothes! If I had an idea about what is available to me, it could make my decision a lot quicker and easier.
I've tried these benefits calculator websites and can't seem to work it out very well as being on maternity leave makes things more complicated.

Can anybody help? x

The website www.entitledto.co.uk might be able to help you OP. Plug in all your details and finances etc and it will give you a calculation as to what you might be able to receive.

Can you return full time?

You'll get tax credits, you may get help to pay your rent and help with childcare costs too. Go and see Citizens Advice and look forward to a future with your baby. All will be fine. I'm a lone parent and work part time, although I'm hoping to up my hours soon.

If you're working more than 16 hours a week you are likely to qualify for working tax credits. Also, a proportion of LHA (Local Housing Allowance) towards your rent but this varies from council to council. Living in Surrey your greatest expense is going to be rent so you might have to move to the cheapest area. Also, finding a landlord willing to take you on when you're dependent on benefits to afford your rent is going to be an uphill struggle.

Also note that whatever maintenance the father pays you is not taken into consideration when calculating benefits.

You could also plug your details into the turn2us website.

Income Support until your baby's 5, or wages topped up with Working Tax Credit
Child Tax Credit
Child Benefit
Housing Benefit
Council Tax Benefit
Possibly council help getting furniture/white goods for a new flat
Needs more details really, definitely go to a CAB