Benefit entitlement?

[1994girl]

Hi there. Currently got a 2 month old and now due back to work until March 2023. I get SMP from work (about 150 a week) and my partner works full time earning about 21k a year. I have child benefits, but are there any other benefits I'm entitled to? My money is rapidly decreasing from splitting rent/council tax etc with partner and I'm starting to go into my savings which I don't want. Please help thank you :-)

Use a benefits calculator online and that'll be able to tell you

Do you rent?

Sorry ignore me just saw you do, I imagine you would be entitled to something

Is your partner expecting you to pay half of the bills while you are on maternity pay?

The rent is 495. We usually split every month, sometimes he's paid 350 of it to help me. But yes, we split all bills

If you are splitting the bills, is he splitting the cost of childcare with you too? In other words, is he paying you 50% of what you could earn as a childminder/nanny/nursery nurse?

Yeah, I thought not.

You need to talk to him about finances as well as checking any benefits you may be eligible for. And remember that if you are living together, his earnings will prevent you from being eligible for certain benefits too.

Surely your savings are what you dip into when you’ve used up your mat leave entitlement. That’s what people do. They save for maternity leave.

You shouldn’t be splitting the bills in half! Why? That’s clearly not on. Yes, you should get benefits.

How much are your savings?

My savings are just over 1000. They were more before I was dipping into them. Looks like I'm not eligible for any other benefit bar SMP and child benefit.

If your OH only earns 21k, what was your salary pre maternity leave?

Well I'm getting 150 a week now as opposed to 324 a week

Have you checked a benefits calculator?
www.entitledto.co.uk/

I ran the details you've provided through the benefit calculator and it says you're entitled to £247 a month so it's worth you doing the calculator yourself

I did it too but it stated I weren't entitled to any universal credit only child benefit, how did you do it?

Did you click that you were currently on SMP and working 0 hours?

Does your OH work full time?

I did at first but when it asked for wage I added the one SMP wage. And yes partner works full time

Hmm, I put that you were employed on statutory leave, working 0 hours atm, your partner works full time at 21K a year, your rent is £495

I've done it a few times and it's telling me each time that you're entitled to money

You'd get a standard allowance of £525.72, housing £495, child element £244.58 then you'd get deductions for your partners wages

@vegang be very careful with what you're assuming. If they own the house they won't get any help towards the housing.
UC disregards £573 a week but the OP got £727 a week before her maternity leave and even now they get £553 a week so if they get anything at all it will be very minimal and I can't see it being anywhere near £247 a month.
OP you need to claim and see what happens, the calculators are not always accurate