Hi, Please can anyone give me any advise

[darlingnc]

I am 23 and 15 weeks pregnant and am in the second week of my new job, i know that i cant get maternity pay as i have not been there long enough, so what can i apply for and how do i do this? also I am still living at home but have money saved for a deposit and months rent for a new place of my own the thing is that when i do start maternity leave can i apply for housing benefit / council tax benefit, also, what other help could i apply for. i will be a single parent and am a bit scared of what the future will hold thanks alot, nicola

[Nosha123]

I would say you should stay living at home and not expect taxpayers to house you.

Tell you what - I'll not have children of my own since I cant afford them - and I'll keep working my arse off to pay for your kids - How does that sound!

[redcrx]

nicola,
you should be entitled to some maternity pay from the government.
I cant tell you about housing benefits, but a quick call to your local benefit office / job centre may help
also try this www.entitledto.co.uk

[darlingnc]

wow, calm down will you, if you bothered to read my question properly it says that i have a job and only need help when on maternity leave. i dont need to explain my situation anymore to you, if you cant help then dont post!
thankyou.

[darlingnc]

hi redcrx,
thanks, i will do that
nicola

[Nosha123]

and before you move into your new place make sure you tell the landlord that you cant pay rent for the months you will not be working and so will be claiming benefits.. He'll love that!!

Hope you can afford the childcare!!

[redcrx]

bad day nosha?

[Nosha123]

yeah sorry!!!
But it does wind me up - all these young girls getting pregnant without a thought.. then the 'father' ******* off - and the taxpayer coughs up taxes to pay for them to live in a rented flat...
I am a responsible adult - who uses contraception as I cannot afford to have children with such a big mortgage. I also could not afford the childcare (�1000 per month) to alow me to go back to work. SO I choose not to have them rather than place us in a financial predicament. Incidentally. Who is going to pay my mortgage when I get pregnant eh? Oh that'll be me then!!!
Why dont people take damn responsibility and stop bringing up babies with no ability to provide?

[redcrx]

Nosha, im with you in that i dont agree that people should bring kids into the world as a means to an income from the government, and would frown upone anyone who chose that path in life.

but nosha you dont know that nicola got herself pregnant with no thought to the outcome.

and she may well have a job with a company that provides childcare of have relatives willing to help or whatever. some parents do manage to pay for childcare, work and bring up children.

shes scared, pregnancy alone is daunting enough.

[darlingnc]

i can afford the child care thanks, my mum is a registered childcarer so no probs there, thanks for the thought! oh, maybe try not getting such a big mortgage if you really want children. try downsizing. i have the ability to provide i will just need help with the rent when im on maternity leave. i have been working full time since i was 16 so i dont see no problems why i shouldnt take advantage of my contributions. i also am a responsible adult which is why i am in full time work and not on income support and the like. i think you need to calm down a bit and stop tarring people with the same brush. oh, and i did not get pregnant without a thought, i was in a well paid job before but was made redundant so stop with your sweeping generalisations. if people didnt have children just because of their financial situation than most people would never have children which is a shame. you seem awfully uptight. Please dont post what is not helpful as your replies will now be ignored. Have a good day! love nicola.x.

[darlingnc]

thanks for your support redcrx, i just asked a simple question on here and did not expect replies like i got of Nosha. thanks again, nicola

[joannie10]

i felt it was unfair of Nosha123 to have a go at you but when I read that it would be a shame if people did not have children just because of their financial situation then I have to disagree. I feel that I am not financially in the position to have a child and bring it up in the way I would want to (ie take time off work during those important early years) therefore I have not allowed myself to get pregnant. I think financial situation should very much be considered before having a child. I am sorry that you lost your job and by the sounds of things your partner and that is why you are in this situation now but I just feel more people should only have children if they themselves can afford to do so.

[darlingnc]

ok, when i discovered i was pregnant i was in a good financial position. now i am not. so because im now not in such a great position i am called irresponsible and wrong in becoming pregnant. all i asked was quite a simple question, some people! and all from people who have no children. lol

[Schutzengel]

Nicola, It is unfortunate that some people jump to conclusions, and post sarcastic or unhelpful answers. That's just the way it is on here. Just take the advice from those who mean you well, and ignore the others, and don't let them wind you up. You are 23 and not some dizzy youngster who got themselves pregnant expecting to be provided with a house and financial support. None of the respondents to your question are aware of the reasons for the break up with your boyfriend. It is good that you will have the support of your mother when junior arrives. Will you be able to remain in your job until your maternity leave commences, and have you enquired whether you will be able to return to it after a suitable interval. The other thing you should really consider is exploring the avenues for obtaining financial support for junior, from the father, either by agreement between you two, or through legal channels. As you say you have always worked, you are obviously not a scrounger, and are only exploring what possible benefits you may be entitled to. So good luck, hope all goes well for you.

[darlingnc]

schutzengle, thank you so much for your reply, i didnt really want to reply to some answers but felt i had to justify myself (to strangers!). thanks for your answer. i will be asking my employer for 6 months maternity leave, as i have not been here long i dont want to take the full year i would be entitled to.
thanks again. nicola

[ojread2]

Hi Nicola

You would also be entitled to WTC and CTC -
https://www.taxcredits.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/Qualify/WhatAreTaxCredits.aspx

As a single parent you may get up to 80% of your childcare paid
You wont be able to get HB until you move into any rented accommodation and many landlords actually prefer tenants who get HB as they know they are going to get their rent each month (tick the box to have it paid direct to him/her)
Also, you will be entitled to maintenance form the father of your baby (this money is takne into account when working out WTC and CTC but is when working out income support)

Look here to see if you actually qualify for government paid SMA http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Customers/ WorkingAgeBenefits/Dev_008115.xml.html

You will only be entitled to SML as you haven't been with your employer for long enough to get AML and you get any additional info here http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Moneyandwo rkentitlements/Parentalleaveandpay/DG_10029285

[ojread2]

lets try a different link for TC

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/TAXCREDITS/

[tboo]

Hi Nicola
Try not to think about moving out of your mums until you have settled into your new job and you have talked to your employer about maternity leave. You dont want to get stressed
When the time comes - this may be after you have had your baby , then consider moving out into your own place. If you decide to do this before then ring/email all the depts ojread2 has listed. including your local council

WTC/CTC and HB/CTB dont take maintenance into account when assessing your income so try and get some child support off the father
and
HB is paid direct to the tenant now so most landlords are getting fussy as to who they rent properties to, so you may not want to let on that you could have to claim benefits to help pay the rent

[Mumof2]

Hi Nicola
have a read through this...
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/life/benef its/benefits_for_families_and_children.htm

congratulations and good luck..you will need it especially when your little 'un is older LOL

[ojread2]

Just to note HB is not always paid directly to the landord if you live in private accommodation - although I suppose it may depend on the area you live in