Am I entitled to more maternity benefit if 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]

I've answered this in 'pregnancy'

[R1Geezer]

Get real FFS, if you could get more benefits for being in debt we'd all be on the rock n Roll with a squillion on the never never!

[gossipgirl]

your outgoings are not concidered when recieveing any type of benefits. You are right though in what you say about being better off as a single parent though. Both my partner and i worked since we were 16 but this counts for nothing! Im not working now since our daughter was born 19 months ago as we would be worse off if i did as we would have to pay for childcare.

[whiskeryron]

Forgive me if I've got this wrong (I'm an old codger) if you and your B/F are not married are you not 2 single people living together ? Therefore are you not a single mother who can claim all the single mother's allowances ?
It strikes me that you are being jeopodised for being honest.Ask your B/F to move into another room (if you have one) then you can honestly declare that he is not living with you.

[caththecrazy]

It doesn't work like that whiskyron and nor should it. They'll ask if she has a relationship with him and about the father I think.

You'd be silly to do that nadine84parker

[sara3]

whiskeryron, she would then be committing a criminal offence under the Social Security Administration Act.

couples that live together are treated as couples for benefit purposes, married or not.. even same sex couples.

[whiskeryron]

Sorry about the faux pas ladies, you can see I'm quite ignorant about thiings of this nature,but I meant well.