pregnant and partner out of work

[karene50]

i am 23 weeks pregnant and work full time and bring home a wage of �170.week after deductions. My partner was laid of work 8 weeks ago and so far has not been able to find work. After about 3weeks he decided pride comes before a fall and went to the job center to sign on and to see what benefits he could claim. What a joke we have both worked since leaving school but all he could claim was job seekers allowance. No help with the mortgage or council tax because i am working. The mortgage alone is �600 a month. We phoned the mortgage company and they have give us a break for 3 months so what we are going to do after that i dont know. Does anyone know if when i finish work and get maternity benefit will we be able to get more help then if he still hasent got a job.I cant claim tax credits cos you have to be 25 and i am only 23. I relly am at my wits end. They wont help us with the mortgage cos you have to change to a interest only mortgage and our mortgage lenders wont let us do that. Any advice would be good.

[gossipgirl]

hiya karene50. its an awful situation to be in and your not alone. Its discusting that the benefit system is there to help the people who never intend of getting a job, rather than the people who have worked hard all there lives and get nothing! You will be entitled to paid mat leave by your employer and because of your situation you may be entitled to a sure start maternity grant of 500. I would recommend you go and see CAB as they are alot more helpful than the social, they will TELL you what you can claim and will help you fill in forms etc. good luck