not sure where this belongs?

[BeMyLilBaby]

if once you have a lo, you decide of your own freewill to stay at home, what benefits do you get, if your DP works full time?

also if you are paid enhanced maternity then go back and get fired would you still have to pay back enhanced?

i ask as i would like to be a SAHM but dont know if we cld afford it, and also ask re:firing as to me whilst this seems dishonest it also seems an easy way to get out having to stay in a job after mat leave for X amount of time?

TIA

Tia,

I don't know about benefits I am afraid.

Most policies that state that maternity pay must be repaid require it to be repaid whatever the reason you leave (i.e. whether you resign or get fired). However, they normally carve out some situations which are essentially 'not your fault' (i.e. redundancy, long term ill health). If the policy is daft enough only to say you repay if you resign then yes, you could theoretically get yourself fired and no repay. I'd be surprised if it said that though...

What sort of benefits do you mean? You'll get family allowance and may qualify for tax credits dependent on your DP's income but there is no government benefit for SAHM's as its a lifestyle choice.

Any of this help re benefits?

What Ribena said about the enhanced, I would be astonished if there was a loophole like that.

HMOO thats what i meant didnt kno what you had to do to qualify for income support? i am well aware its a lifestyle choice, just dunno if we can afford to choose the lifestyle i feel would be best for my child until they are at school, that in itself makes it feel like its not a choice!

I only ask as you hear people bitching about how families live off benefits, i suppose you must have to be on a poor income as a family to qualify, which seems a bit backwards, that you are left disadvantaged through earning a good but not quite good enough wage...this isnt a dig at families on benefits btw i just wonder why the government doesnt do more to support mothers regardless of financial situation