Am I entitled to any extra benefit on maternity leave when my BF is in debt?

[nadine84parker]

I am due to start maternity leave in January. My boyfriend and I both work full time. I know I am entitled to SMP, child tax credit and child benefit, but as my BF is in the army and on more than £14,500 (or whatever the minimum is!) it appears at first glance that is all I am entitled to.

The problem that we have is that half his wages are taken every month in debt repayments, so essentailly he will only have £1,000 a month to pay our rent, utilities, council tax, food and general day to day things. (It\\\'s not a problem at the moment as I am on an ok wage and have no debt)

I just wonder if debts and our rent etc are taken into consideration when calculating how much I will receive during maternity leave and when I return to work. I can only go to work part time after maternity leave as child care is so dear and I know I do not get assistance unless I am a single mum or low income family.

I hate to admit it, but I have worked out that I would be financially better off if I left my BF lol! Obviously I would never do that, but I just want to know if there is an honest way around it??

Advice much appreciated!

N x

[ummmm]

If you entitled to tax credits then you should be entitled to 80% of child care costs. Some people who claim do not qualify for money but qualify for free dental/opticain/persciptions and child care.

They will not take into consideration that he has debts.

[ummmm]

You need to get hold of the council regarding rent. They may pay something towards it but unlikely.

[Rosetta]

Your best bet Nadine is to go to Citizens Advice Bureau who can do a full benefits check for you.

Also have a word with them to see if you could reduce your monthly debt repayments. If the people owed money would accept less but over a longer period of time, this may be worth considering.

Good luck.

[redcrx]

see if your employer can offer child care vouchers (ie you buy vouchers from your wages before tax) that saves a lot too.

[NiallsMama]

Hey, when I went on Mat leave the 1st time I got mat pay thru my employer coz i was paying my NI, the 2nd time id dropped my hours, so not paying any NI out of my wages & had to claim mat pay thru' the jobcentre.
When my emlpoyer payed it I got 90% of my wages for 6 months (4yrs ago) & when I got it off the social, I got £83-odd. Going back to work Tomorrow....GULP!!!

[TCL-MUMPING]

NiallsMama, if you were getting only SMP the first time, you would have got 90% of the earnings for only six weeks and not six months. You would have got the standard rate after six weeks.

[whiskeryron]

See my answer in Family.