Benefits/working

[k8bailey]

ok i realise I may get a lot of stick for this but here goes, as some of you know, I had a baby 11 weeks ago, and Im due to start work again in about 6wks.

The problem is I don't really want to go back. I had arranged to go part time (3days a week) and the baby would go to nursery on these days as her dad works full time as do all our familly who are nearby. My partner doesn't earn enough to pay the mortgage, and support the three of us on his own, so would we be entitled to any help if I choose not to go back to work, and be a stay at home mum?

I should also explain that going to work also seems a little pointless as I earn very little. After paying tax, NI and nursery fees I would earn around �24 a week!!! (but I realise I would be entitled to help if I was working)

[redcrx]

k8, take a look and family and working tax credits. You can input lots of info and get it to calculate what you can claim for.

You would get help with nursery fees, family tax credit is often higher in the first year so perhaps you could review the situation once baby turns 1 as it will drop considerably.

How about working in the eves for a few hours?

at the end of the day, some will slate you for not working, others will slate you if you put your child in child care.

Do whats best for you at this time, but keep a check on it as benefits wont always pay the bills.

[warpig3]

As redcrs say, you need to look into this more.

As a stay at home mum, living with her partner, you will nto be entitled to any benefits such as income support, JSA, etc. You will be entitled to working family tax credits and of cours child benefit. Family tax credit depends on what your partner earns, ie:

�o earned with one child under one = �2935 per year
�5000 " " " " = �6370 " "
�10000 = �5305
�15000 =�3455
�20000 =�1605
�25-50000 =�1090

(taken from HM Revenue & customns doc T9P 70-21

Hypothetically, if you were a single parent and living on you own and supporting your child alone you would probably be better off. This scenario would of course pose difficulties for you, as presumeably it would not be true and would leave you open to charges of fraud should you be found out.

[aims1202]

i dont think being on your own and claiming benefits would mean you were better off, benefits is not even as much as the minimum wage so if your husband works full time he will be earning more than benefits.
if he earns less than �35000 a year then i think you are entitled to tax credits. there is a website that works out what you are entitled to www.entitledto.co.uk