SMP and other help???

[Vickx]

Hi ladys

I hope somone can help me I am due to go on maternity leave soon and I will be paid for 6weeks at 90% of my earnigns then I go on to SMP which I have been told is a struggle can anyone tell me if you are entitled to any housing or council ta benefit while on SMP as it seems impossible to pay rent and live off £128 a week.

Thanks x

 

[davidjoemum]

hi
child benefit and child tax credit(after baby is born)

tax credit

and you can apply for hb and ctb too

hope i helped

 

[Vickx]

thats a great help thanks also I am really hateing my work at the mo its really stressing me out so much so I plan to take my maternity leave the full 11weeks before I am due meaning I would finish up on the 17th of may should I soldier on until then or would it be better to get signed off by my doctor? I wonder I I will be adding more stress with haven to get help with rent and things etc x

 

[suzib76]

it depends on your circumstances really

married/single

homeowner/rent

other household income etc etc

the 6 weeks at 90% then standard rate is smp, you dont go on to it after the 6 weeks

 

[sowanted]

Try to stay and earn as much as you can, while you can!

Getting signed off by a doctor won't yield anything except an explanation of why you need to start leave sooner than originally intended. When those six weeks are up (at 90% pay), they're up! Even if baby hasn't come (as I understand it).

I say do whatever you need to do to reduce stress in the job (sweetness and light, set aside personality clashes, do the tasks that aren't fun, etc) and just keep working to accumulate as much cash reserves as possible. Use breaks to look into any other credits you may be eligible for. (I think there's a sticky on this board that links out to the direct.gov site that explains it all. If confused by anything, go to Citizens Advice Bureau. Someone there will be able to explain it all to you.)

Good luck!