Sinead

You will need the birth cert to apply for benefits - I can't remember if its for the Child Benefit or the Tax Credits though as I think only one of them need it. Also if you get tax credits at a rate that is higher than the normal rate (I don't know the amounts - sorry) you may be able to qualify for a Sure Start Maternity Grant of £500 (You MUST apply before the baby is 3 months old - if Tax Credits havent been awarded at this point, apply for it anyway as you can always get them to look at it again once Tax Credits are awarded).
Also Tax Credits can help with Child care costs.
What about Statutory Maternity Pay (from your employer) or if you havent been there long enough there is always Maternity Allowance dependant on how long you have been working (can be for more than 1 employer)
Hope some of that makes sense to you.

Sinead

KX

Thats shocking Amanda.

I just phoned them up today as we were nilled for Becca due to an overpayment, but wanted to know if we could get anything for Lucy.

I told them that I am dropping down to SMP shortly and they told me to work out an estimated income for me for 2007-8 and they could go on that!

Depending on who u get through to they all tell u different things.

They never asked for Lucy's birth certificate (I havent registered her yet!) not been up to it! They updated all our change of cirs there and then, but couldnt give us an amount as their calculation part of the comp was down!

Amanda

£300 a month may sound a lot to some people, but I have 2 kids, and Charlie is in fulltime nursery which costs me £600 a month, so the £300 doesn't do a lot!

I know it was our decision to have kids, and I shouldn't expect the government to support us, but a little help because we both work isn't too much to ask, surely?

KX

Amanda I meant thats shocking that they left you til the year after to take into account SMP

I know only too well the cost of nursery fee's-they sting us bad, hence the reason Rebecca is coming out in November til I return to work.xx

Linzi

Oh thats good I was a student for most of last year! haha.

Thanks for the help in here everyone.

We're looking into housing benefit as well... it might sound a bit snobby, but where we live is a nice place to bring up kids, and the house is perfect size for the three of us and we really want to stay here.I know we couldn't do any better than this place. Alas, it's costing us £650 a month in rent and then bills on top so we might not have an option. But Im sure we'll find a way!!

Thanks again for the help everyone It's much appreciated.

nutty

I know it can vary depending on who you speak to in Jobcentres but they can do a calculation to work out what you could be eligible for- ie housing benefit/council benefit top up, child & working tax credit etc. It gives you an idea of what you could receive

Firsttimer

At the moment i work full time - my partner works but doesnt earn that much money. I am thinking to just go back to work part time after having maternity leave ........ The goverment need to start helping mothers that work really and give them a bit more money as sometimes its just not worth working .

Tam

Hun, I understand what you are saying, you are being very responsible but as Wobs said "who can afford it".......you just manage somehow, I know it seems so scarey at first but you really do manage. I know someone who had absolutely nothing when she was pregnant and I mean nothing - but she managed and things also turned around for her! Where there's a will, there is a way!

The links Wobs gave you are very useful!

Good luck hun! x

Linzi

Thank you for the kind words

That was the first thing we were worried about, and I posted that on the day I found out I was pegnant. Were past that now and thinking 'oh well, what happens, happens!'. We love our baby,a dn will do the best we can for it.