Benefits for a new parent.

[balbyrover]

Im just looking for some pointers/advice in the right direction regarding what I am and what I'm not entitled too.

So we are expecting our first child with my partner in the coming days and Its all new to us both,not exactly sure what help is available.

 I was banking on recieving my maternity pay for 2 weeks from my employer but was advised that I don't qualify as I've not worked for them for long enough. They told me not to worry and that the job centre will cover it, I applied through a 52 page book and was told I need to attend a interview which I did today only to be informed I am not entitled to it as my partner is already claiming materniry (£140pw) from her employer. 

I've saved no holiday days as was told I would qualify for this and now it means I am going to be short massively for half a month! Frustrating to say the least. 

Anyway I have been advised that we will qualify for tax credits but not working tax credits as we earnt too much last year, a friend told me about a £500 maternity grant which he is adamant I will qualify for as he says everybody who gets tax credits does...

I will be going into the job centre next week once the baby is born to see what is what but in the meantime just wondered if anybody could give any advice.

By the way,I'm not a sponger at all,nor is my partner.  We've both worked since we were old enough full time. Just find it hard to grasp that those that dont work and sit on their arse all day seem to have everything handed to them whilst we both work 40+ hours a week and get almost nothing!

Thanks 

[Mike_F]

I'm not going to be much help here as we were entitled to sod all bar the basic child benefit of £20 a week and even that's being clawed back now we're over a threshold. But the point I dropped in to make was that at least you'll get the £20 if nowt else!

[balbyrover]

I'm not going to be much help here as we were entitled to sod all bar the basic child benefit of £20 a week and even that's being clawed back now we're over a threshold. But the point I dropped in to make was that at least you'll get the £20 if nowt else!

What about the maternity grant? Did you ever apply for that or ?
The woman on phone i spoke with seemed certain we would get that, she said if you get the tax credit thats your passport for the maternity grant as long as you send off within 3 months.

The tax credit is the £20 i believe.

[bobjimwilly]

have you tried using an online benefits calculator, such as Turn2us

[DaveDRFC]

Paternity pay is different to maternity. Employers do have to give you 2 weeks off by law when your baby is born but I think they only actually have to pay you for 2 days of it. The rest is unpaid leave. Some employers do pay more but above the 2 days it's entirely up to them.

[knockers]

Why should anyone be given anything for having a child. It's your choice and nobody else should have to support you. Child benefit should also be scrapped

[balbyrover]

Why should anyone be given anything for having a child. It's your choice and nobody else should have to support you. Child benefit should also be scrapped

Are you real? As somebody whos paid tax since i was young enough I feel pretty hard done by that I won't be paid to have 2 weeks off paternity leave.
Its quite reasonable to want to spend time with your child, sorry that your not in the real world mate.

I agree where people have children to stop working but thats not the case. I work full-time as does my partner who will be going back to work in Febuary.

[Jenny]

 

Paternity pay is different to maternity. Employers do have to give you 2 weeks off by law when your baby is born but I think they only actually have to pay you for 2 days of it. The rest is unpaid leave. Some employers do pay more but above the 2 days it's entirely up to them.

.

Paternity leave is two weeks but you have to have been working there for X amount of weeks before the birth. Employer only has to pay you statutory paternity for both of those weeks. It's not like maternity whereby if you haven't been at your employer by the qualifying week you can claim from the government instead.

Only other way round is to take shared parental leave, but that eats into the 39 weeks paid maternity leave.

[balbyrover]

Paternity pay is different to maternity. Employers do have to give you 2 weeks off by law when your baby is born but I think they only actually have to pay you for 2 days of it. The rest is unpaid leave. Some employers do pay more but above the 2 days it's entirely up to them.

.

Paternity leave is two weeks but you have to have been working there for X amount of weeks before the birth. Employer only has to pay you statutory paternity for both of those weeks. It's not like maternity whereby if you haven't been at your employer by the qualifying week you can claim from the government instead.

Only other way round is to take shared parental leave, but that eats into the 39 weeks paid maternity leave.

You can get paternity from the job centre.. you just cany get it if your partner is already claiming materniry..
They say your entitled to 108 pound a week in the household.. joke really.

[roversdude]

Balby congrats on impending pitter patter hope it goes/went ok
My son in law thought he was getting 2 weeks paid paternity but it turned out he got a statutory payment, I'm sure he got that even though my daughter was on maternity
Like you they had both worked full time from leaving school
Please ignore WUM earlier

[mushRTID]

I'm in the same boat mate, my first child is due 5 weeks today and I moved companies in February so don't qualify for Paternity.

2 weeks unpaid but I think we can just about manage it.

All the best with it.

[balbyrover]

I'm in the same boat mate, my first child is due 5 weeks today and I moved companies in February so don't qualify for Paternity.

2 weeks unpaid but I think we can just about manage it.

All the best with it.

Congrats and all the best mate,boy or girl?

Its shite mate really and if I'd have known i would've budgeted a bit better..

Good luck with DRI mate.. we were booked in for a induction this morning which was booked last week, turned away this morning as not enough beds and they will call us.
Now theyve called us in to put her on a monitor for 45 minutes and said theyd keep her in, arrived and placed on monitor and now saying theres not enough beds to keep her in so will be coming back in morning more than likely.
The nurse is on phone to the delivery ward now see if theres anything that can be done. Massively frustrating.

[mushRTID]

That sounds like a nightmare, unacceptable. I hope they sort it quick for you.

We haven't found out mate...you?

[balbyrover]

That sounds like a nightmare, unacceptable. I hope they sort it quick for you.

We haven't found out mate...you?

Yeah nightmare they dont rush.
And little boy for us. I would've waited but partners not very paitent so we found out haha!

[balbyrover]

He arrived yesterday healthy and well after a long 4 day labour ending in thearthe and a huge scare at the end.
All healthy and weighing in at 8lb 2oz at 11.57am.
Best feeling ever.

[glosterred]

He arrived yesterday healthy and well after a long 4 day labour ending in thearthe and a huge scare at the end.
All healthy and weighing in at 8lb 2oz at 11.57am.
Best feeling ever.

Congrats, just in time for a season ticket and a first appearance at the Gillingham game then.

COYR

[Jenny]

Congratulations, hope mother & baby are well

[mushRTID]

He arrived yesterday healthy and well after a long 4 day labour ending in thearthe and a huge scare at the end.
All healthy and weighing in at 8lb 2oz at 11.57am.
Best feeling ever.

4 days bloody hell, glad it's all over for you both.

Congratulations mate.

[Geoff Blakesley]

Well done Balby and partner. Get stuck in for yourselves and don't expect owt is my advice

[roversdude]

Congrats guys only 20+ years of sleepless nights and lack of funds - only joking
Enjoy every minute of them you can, the time really does fly by

[RobTheRover]

Congratulations Balby!  The first 2 years are the easiest....

[colfromdonny]

Enjoy my married mans tax allowance 

[balbyrover]

Enjoy my married mans tax allowance 

You've lost me fella?
Thanks for the well wishes guy. Sleepless nights have well and truly started.

[colfromdonny]

The married mans tax break was taken away and given to the first child instead, people used to get married and get the tax benefit but the government decided that they could save money by only giving it if you have children therefore penalising couples without children i.e. me 

[balbyrover]

The married mans tax break was taken away and given to the first child instead, people used to get married and get the tax benefit but the government decided that they could save money by only giving it if you have children therefore penalising couples without children i.e. me 

That's the system for you. Nothing to do with me.

[balbyrover]

I'm in the same boat mate, my first child is due 5 weeks today and I moved companies in February so don't qualify for Paternity.

2 weeks unpaid but I think we can just about manage it.

All the best with it.

Hope it all went well Mush. I assume your bundle of joy is here now?
Blue or Pink?

[mushRTID]

I'm in the same boat mate, my first child is due 5 weeks today and I moved companies in February so don't qualify for Paternity.

2 weeks unpaid but I think we can just about manage it.

All the best with it.

Hope it all went well Mush. I assume your bundle of joy is here now?
Blue or Pink?

Funny you should mention mate, he/she is now 12 days overdue....we arrived at 1pm today to be induced!

Thanks for your thoughts bud.

How's yours?

[balbyrover]

I'm in the same boat mate, my first child is due 5 weeks today and I moved companies in February so don't qualify for Paternity.

2 weeks unpaid but I think we can just about manage it.

All the best with it.

Hope it all went well Mush. I assume your bundle of joy is here now?
Blue or Pink?

Funny you should mention mate, he/she is now 12 days overdue....we arrived at 1pm today to be induced!

Thanks for your thoughts bud.

How's yours?

12 days wow!! That's a long time i bet your both excited now.
And he's good mate thanks, its harder than i thought and no doubt only gwta harder but the sleepless nights etc are worth it deep down...
Its tough though haha

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

I'm in the same boat mate, my first child is due 5 weeks today and I moved companies in February so don't qualify for Paternity.

2 weeks unpaid but I think we can just about manage it.

All the best with it.

Hope it all went well Mush. I assume your bundle of joy is here now?
Blue or Pink?

Funny you should mention mate, he/she is now 12 days overdue....we arrived at 1pm today to be induced!

Thanks for your thoughts bud.

How's yours?

12 days wow!! That's a long time i bet your both excited now.
And he's good mate thanks, its harder than i thought and no doubt only gwta harder but the sleepless nights etc are worth it deep down...
Its tough though haha

It's not that tough is it?  Please tell me it's not.

Good luck Mush...

One further bright point - the Rovers fan base keeps growing!

[balbyrover]

I'm in the same boat mate, my first child is due 5 weeks today and I moved companies in February so don't qualify for Paternity.

2 weeks unpaid but I think we can just about manage it.

All the best with it.

Hope it all went well Mush. I assume your bundle of joy is here now?
Blue or Pink?

Funny you should mention mate, he/she is now 12 days overdue....we arrived at 1pm today to be induced!

Thanks for your thoughts bud.

How's yours?

12 days wow!! That's a long time i bet your both excited now.
And he's good mate thanks, its harder than i thought and no doubt only gwta harder but the sleepless nights etc are worth it deep down...
Its tough though haha

It's not that tough is it?  Please tell me it's not.

Good luck Mush...

One further bright point - the Rovers fan base keeps growing!

Haha its not that hard mate. I struggle with the crying but our lass is good in that sense.
The sleepless nights are the hardest.
All worth it when the baby smiles though.