The Abyss

[MissMamma]

Okay what can i do?
I have no money, i'm officially in the abyss. I had to come off Jobseekers when i hit 29weeks and i applied for income suport the same day. I've quit my job because we're moving away and now i cant afford dinner tonight. I cant afford to paint my new house. I cant afford to get to my friends house tonight like i promised i would. I don't know what to do..xx

 

[shazney22]

make sure u claim ESA, I had no money coming in for weeks and they said I was entitled to IS, I wasnt! then tried to claim MA and wasnt entitled to that, 6- 8 weeks before baby is born they are within their rights, although they are fly and dont tell you that you are entitled to ESA, contribution based, u should get it as I seen u quit ur job so no doubt uve paid enough NI xx

 

[HCB]

Can you not get maternity allowance? Obviously you wouldn't be able to get SMP but possibly MA? That's why they would have stopped JSA at that point because that's when they make you start claiming it if you're on benefits.

I'm currently on JSA but if I don't find a job and carry on getting it until my entitlement runs out (at about 6 months) then I've worked out I'll be just over 29 weeks so they'll stop it (JSA) a bit sooner than my entitlement and I'll have to claim my MA. It's actually more money so in some respects I wish I could go on it sooner but you can't start claiming maternity any sooner than 29 weeks.

I'm not entitled to income support either because it's based on both your own and your partner's income but it's not like my husband earns a huge wage.