Desperate ftm. UK moms, help! :(

[Bearpaws]

Hi. Crying out for advice from UK moms. Long story short - i worked a hard factory job through agency, and when i was 5 months, started to feel pain in the belly, because of the work 7 nights in a row etc. I left, because i have had miscarriage before (and also think that overworking was one of the causes) and I was scared . As it was work through agency, and i left way too earlier than women usually do, (did say i'm leaving because i'm pregnant,but I highly doubt they saw it as a maternity leave, nothing official was formed), I have no idea what to do now, regarding maternity pay or child benefit. Am I entitled for it? Am I not? Who should I ask? Highly doubt I can go talk with the agency, they have long ago deleted my files from their system etc. Please give me advice. :(

[Rena2089]

I was in the same sort of predicament I just left my job two years to start a new job when I found out I was pregnant two weeks into the new job so that men I've actually lost out on my return until from my old job so I looked into the maternity allowance that as long as you've worked a certain amount of weeks doesn't matter whether it's broken weeks for long weeks in the same place or different places then you would beentitled to maternity allowance as long as you've worked I think it's 26 weeks before you're due date and the girls are right if you're not working you are entitled to housing benefit as well as possibly income support but if you get awarded maternity allowance and they decide that it's a high amount you won't get the income support you just received the maternity allowance which is still pretty good you should also look into a break on your council tax Which is where the lower the amount you have to pay if they make to pay any at allalso looking for a council house if you don't already have one because it does really help being able to have the extra money and cancel houses are so cheap and if you ever do happen to have another child saying a couple of years I need a bigger house you can actually do a house swap with someone which is Nice As for the sure start grant of £500 that can be a A lifesaver you must claim the grant 11 weeks of the baby is due date or within three months after speaking born but that you don't pay back its like a gift which is brilliant I doesn't affect any other benefits that you might be getting hope this helps to make sense xx

[ashlii00]

im confused at that

[ashlii00]

how come your asking for advice from UK mums but you spelt mum american way?

[Bearpaws]

Thanks a lot to all of you. <3

[Bearpaws]

Thanks a lot to all of you. <3

[Sarahh95]

Look into income support (if you are single), child tax credit, child benefit and housing allowance (:

[ashlii00]

go to citizens advice if you have any querys. they are great!

[shushu5]

Wow, that's amazing! The benefits for pregnant mothers in other countries is amazing. In the US, we get 12 weeks off. In other countries they get a year. Why didn't women's rights fight for that? Oh I know why, because women wanted to be equal to men in the work place and they forgot that we are the ones who carry life and need a real break!!!

[fparsons60]

Have a look at maternity allowance, it's different from maternity pay. Everyone gets child benefit, look into tax credit, housing benefit

[WhiteJasmineRose3]

Is the sure start maternity grant only in the UK I'm from the US

[Bearpaws]

Thanks, this helps a bunch!!!!!!!!

[midcoats]

If you're not working(?) you can apply for housing benifit which will help with rent/mortgage  :)

[midcoats]

There's a surestart maternity grant you can get if this is your first baby, it's for £500, search it online, fill in the forms and send it off :) I think you have to be 28 weeks. When baby is born you can apply for child tax and child benifit :)