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Original poster

working / claiming benefits- young expectant mother!

15 replies

beccabubbless · 27/05/2012 16:48

hiya all, i just want to put it out there before i get a load of abuse on here that im only trying to do my best for myself and for my dc when they are born!

im currently working in a kitchen from 7am-4pm, which is hot, physical, and churns my stomach
ive been signed off of work sick for the past 4 weeks (im only 9 weeks pregnant) due to horrific morning sickness and the fact i obviously cant be around food!

im hoping to move out of my parents house when i have my baby, but i wont be able to afford to do it on my wages / maternity leave.
ive been looking into what benefits i can claim and there isnt really anything because i have a job!

if i were to quit my job how long would it be before i could claim benefits / would i be able to because i quit my job?
i think i have a valid reason for quitting due to the heavy lifting, hot conditions, horrific hours, and the fact my morning sickness is so bad, but i dont know what to do!

only trying to do my best guys, no judgements please Blush
but any help / advice would be great :)

OP posts:
morethanpotatoprints · 27/05/2012 18:54

Hi Becca, the same happened to me, I can't tell you about benefits except if you were homeless with baby you would be housed. Your job is not good in your position and I too had to leave. I got the ssp from gov which helped alot. me and dh/bf at time had good friends who let us stay with them until we had baby, got married, found new jobs and found our own place. Anybody who judges you isn't worth wasting your energy on to be frank.

rainbowinthesky · 27/05/2012 18:57

Could you not look for a job that isnt so hot and physical? Appreciate you have to tell them you're pregnant though. Or do you? Not sure of the law.

justhayley · 27/05/2012 20:20

I think your best bet would be to pop into your local job centre they would be able to help you with benefit information. I think if youv paid enough national insurance (&im not sure what is considered enough) but you would be entitled to benefits regardless of u left your job.
You could also call HMRC they have an advice section. Would it not be possible to get statutory sick pay until you can swap over to maternity allowance or income support once the baby is here?

Or perhaps try & find another job that you could do in pregnancy (at 9 weeks u won't need to tell persecutive employers at the interview).

With regards to housing. If you have a deposit - usually 6 weeks rent, you could rent a flat privately and apply for housing benefit. Have you pit your name on the local council list?

The other places that are good with help on thus stuff is money advice - u can email or call them, and of course citizens advice centres.

If u work part time when baby is here u will also be entitled to tax credits which will top up your income substantially.

Don't worry about being judged. I don't think ul get any stick at all in your situation.
And congratulations on tour pregnancy GrinGrin

Hope you get the answers you need

Xx

omletta · 27/05/2012 20:23

Your employer must do a risk assessment on your condition and if you can't do the job your employed for they must ( by law ) give you alternative work to do (such as office work). Do they know you are pregnant?

alphabite · 27/05/2012 20:36

''I think your best bet would be to pop into your local job centre they would be able to help you with benefit information. I think if youv paid enough national insurance (&im not sure what is considered enough) but you would be entitled to benefits regardless of u left your job.''

I think this is incorrect unless it is different if you are pregnant (I wasn't pregnant). I left my job and was told I was ineligable for up to 6 months. Luckily I found another job quickly. I had definitely paid enough NI as had a well paid job and had completed most of the tax year. You need clear answers from CAB or the job centre.

alphabite · 27/05/2012 20:37

I meant to say there are circumstances where your doctor can certify that you were right to leave your post and you would be intitled to benefits straight away.

Original poster
beccabubbless · 27/05/2012 20:40

Hiya all, sorry if reply is a bit disjointed, on my mobile!
Thank you all for being so considerate i talked to my friends and they looked at me with disgust for suggesting the idea!

morethan I am currently receiving ssp, so say worst case senario I'm sick as a dog i hope not! until I'm ready for maternity leave, do I still get maternity pay and if so how much? :/

rainbow I've tried and tried and tried to look for a new job, because I don't really like what I'm doing but there is nothing going unfortunatly :(

hayley my understanding is that you can only be on ssp for a certain amount of time? And (linking to morethan) I'm on ssp for the 3 months before I take maternity leave then my maternity leave will only be 90% of that.. Instead of 90% of my wages! This means I then can't afford to live, so if I quit (I've heard??) That you can't start claiming benefits for 3 months?!
I haven't put my name on the council list as I would be bottom priority! I live with my mum + brother in a 3 bed house :s
So moving out then applying for housing benefits sounds like my best option?

omletta yes they know I'm pregnant, but I don't know what's considered as 'unsafe' working environment so I don't know if there judgements wiLl be the same as mine?!

Thank you so much guys!

OP posts:
lagoonhaze · 27/05/2012 20:47

If you leave your job then the jobcentre will look at whether you should be sanctioned for a period of up to 26wks. This may result in a lost of benefits for some or all of the period regardless of whether the benefit was contribution or income based. To be honest I dont think you have a firm enough reason as you could actually just remain sick for as long as your health is a problem and claim SSP/ ESA

You may qualify for a JSA hardship payment which is a reduced payment during this period.

Once the baby is here you can give up your job and claim Income Support until age 5 (proposed change due to come in force). Obviously this is ideal and you would be better off finding another job or even retraining during this period.

For now- risk assessment at work once able to return.

omletta · 27/05/2012 20:48

It's not so much unsafe as you just can't do it, if they do a proper risk assessment it will be in consultation with you. I am not sure what your recourse is if you don't agree but surely it's better to be in work than not?

lagoonhaze · 27/05/2012 20:57

PS you can put your name on the council waiting list and really should. Your mum just needs to confirm that she is unable to house you after x date.

I really think you need to see a good advice centre about housing and SSP.

SimplySoo · 28/05/2012 13:39

You need to look at the direct.gov.uk website and read up on your rights in pregnancy. It explains the differences between maternity allowance and statutory maternity pay for example. It's up to you whether you tell your employer about your pregnancy (you only HAVE to tell them 15 weeks before due date) but it'll offer you protection as they can't discriminate against you if you're off sick for pregnancy related reasons.

lizzywig · 28/05/2012 13:42

My DH is a chef and works 7:30 - 4:30, he is the first person to say that working in a kitchen is exhausting, tiring and stressful. He however loves his job so I can only imagine how you must feel when you don't like it and your pregnant. I would keep looking for another job but perhaps you could find work in a pub/bar/restaurant waitressing or cooking but not so busy, I know there's not much out there but there are some jobs.

You need to ask work for a risk assessment, a friend of mine was head chef during her pregnancy and she had one and no risk was found, so please don't get your hopes up. However either way it's important to have one done so that you know you're not at risk. You need to ensure that you take regular breaks and I would have thought that you should be getting extra if working in a busy kitchen and on your feet all day. I know my DH is entitled to extra 5 min breaks and he's not pregnant! That said he never has time to take them but you need to make time.

Original poster
beccabubbless · 28/05/2012 15:09

well, lizzy my employers are idiots ¬¬
ive spoken to the jobcentre and they said that they have no idea what id be entitled to if i quit, and that ive have to quit, then find out.. and if its found that i left for no reason it could be up to 6months before i can claim anything.....
i mean.. seriously.. the govenment are not very accomodating :S

OP posts:
lagoonhaze · 28/05/2012 16:20

Becca- did you see my posts? That's all the benefits advise there- more than you would get from the jobcentre (who aren't benefit trained)

You need to see CAB about SSP and SMP.

I reiterate my advice to go on the housing register it is not pointless. If you present as homeless in an interview with a housing officer then they may place you in emergency b&b if deemed homeless and in a priority group. This can only be for a short period of time. This again will give you a higher priority. Eventually they will house you but you will have to play the long game here. Obviously you may also be able to rent privately and some councils will help you with this. By the way apply for the register and presenting are two separate things.

Original poster
beccabubbless · 29/05/2012 13:20

sorry lagoon i didnt, my phone was being stupid and only just got on a computer!
ive put myself on the housing register, so hopefully something will come of that.
ive asked work to do a risk assessment for me, which they are going to do asap! just found out that someone else in my kitchen is also pregs ( at 12 weeks ) but is having a lovley time of it, no morning sickness or any of the crap ive had, and work are now being complete bitches very uncooperative saying that i should be at work as she is?!
they dont seem to understand that everyone is different ://

OP posts:
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