benefits confused!

[precious-gift]

hey wondering if anyone can help, really confused about what benefits i am entitled to once baby is here, ive done the entitled to website, but it seems so much £135 week!
circumstances are, last year i had an income of 15150 and was married, this year my income will have dropped considerably, as cut my hours and will be on maternity leave from july, will also now be a single parent. do i estimate my income for this year? if so how do i calculate maternity pay, as i saw someone said they don't count the first £100? is that true and is that every week?
sorry just confused with it all, would like to know how much im going to have to live off
thanks
xx

 

[lauraperrysan]

i got smp and £132.00 per week tax credits...i was on my own and have £14,500 per yr income (before mat leave)...tax credits are generous. It sounds right to me xx

 

[Seraphim]

I looked into WTC and CTC rules yday (see the link in my signature)

PM me if you get stuck and I'll try to help.

 

[Donna35]

You calculate your income for the year starting from April of this year so your wages until you go on maternity then with the weekly money you don't calculate the first 100 for each week.

I rang up the benefit place and a really nice bloke explained it to me and did all my calculations for me. I earn 14000 a year and he estimated it that I'll be getting 135 a week tax credits too on top of maternity benefit 120 odd a week and child benefit 20 a week. Sounds like you'll be on same as me = 275 a week...

He also said I'll still get the 135 a week even AFTER I go back to work in January and will get it for the whole next year too as they'll calculate next years benefit on this years earnings.

I thought that was a lot too and asked him was he sure cos it seems like a lot (not too bright me lol should have kept quiet said nothing in case was a mistake) but he said yes that's how much I'll get but that after that it'll go down quite a lot