Redundancy and 8 weeks pregnant!!

[loza]

Hello

Just found out Monday that I'm being made redundant from my 5 day a week 9-5:30pm job, last working day will be next Friday the 12th December. I have worked here since feb 2007, and have had mat leave for 9 months.

I'm now 8 weeks pregnant with my second child.
I have a mortgage, my payments are �555 a month, I pay full council tax and do not receive working or child tax for my 11 month old daughter (this is due to me apparently being overpaid, which in fact was there mistake not mine as I gave all correct details).
I live with my partner of three years and he also works full time - 40 hours a week.

I am asking for advice on almost everything here...what am I entitled to:
From my employer?
In regards to what I am able to claim to survive?
Will I be able to get another job whilst pregnant? (meaning; will anyone actually take me on?)
And I have mortgage cover, will they help me to pay my mortgage?

Thanks and if you need anymore info please ask as I'm not sure what extra info you may need to help me with my queries.

Thanks xx

[LoftyLottie]

Quite honestly loza, the best thing you can do is to go down to your local Employment Office (Job Centre). They are very good at dealing with your benefit and redundancy payments.

This chart will tell you how much redundancy payment you can expect, although you haven't yet been with the company for two years, so I don't think you are entitled to any.

You will have to contact your mortgage lender/insurer about your mortgage cover - the terms and conditions can vary according to your policy.

As to whether you will find another job whilst pregnant - who knows! It depends on what's available and what you can offer. It may be very difficult at the moment though, not just for you, but for most people.

It's a bad time for most of us at the moment, but chin up and try and remain positive. x

[LoftyLottie]

I should have said that the Job Centre are very good at 'advising' you of benefit payments. You can also make an appointment with them for after the 12th December.

[Goodsoulette]

If not getting your tax credits means that you will be unable to pay bills etc they can't stop them but as Lottie said, if you go and speak to people at the job centre they can help you sort this out. I have found them to be extraordinarily helpful.

[redcrx]

oh loza, its not a good time for many at the moment, but yu do have a chance of being emplyed again, though you wont get maternity pay from your new employer.

is the mortgage in your name? i presme that the bills arent just yours and that your partner does pay towards them. our joint earnings will obviosuly be taken into account when applying for any benefits.

you may also get a maternity grant from the government if youre on certain benefts, which is �300 i think.

try filing in details on this webite and see what it suggests you may be entitled to http://www.entitledto.co.uk/

[loza]

Thankyou so much for your help and advice I will arrange that appointment with them asap.

Thanks again xx

[loza]

Thanks redcrx I will do that now x

[Velvetee]

You will be able to get another job whilst pregnant, but it maybe quite difficult. Also you will not be entitled to any maternity pay from a new employer, so will need to apply for state maternity pay.

I would make an appointment with your local CAB to find out what, if any benefits you maybe entitled to.

[David Black]

Yo probably should make an appointment at the Citizens advice.

Jobs are getting hard to find obviously.

[natalie_1982]

I can't offer any more advice than has already been mentioned, but I shall keep everything crossed for you Ioza, even though I know it probably doesn't feel like it right now I am sure everything will work out XX

[thugulike]

You should post this question under Jobs & Education where it may be answered by someone who has employment law knowledge. You don't have sufficient service to qualify for a redundancy payment but you may have been given notice because you are pregnant. That would be direct sex discrimination. You need advice and quickly. Try CAB or ACAS

[onlyme26]

hello, the tax credits are terrible, they did the same to me, they sent me a letter saying i was overpaid �2000 within the last year!!! i gave them all my correct details!! how the hell do they overpay me that much, all they do is take it out from the next year,

trying calling them again see if there is anything you can get

good luck x

[buildersmate]

Thugalike is absolutely right. It is still possible to declare a lady who is pregnant as redundant but the reason for the redundancy must be shown by the employer to be completely unrelated to the pregnancy. It is automatically unfair if it is.
The onus is on the employer to show this.
Talk to the CAB and / or post another question explaining more about the circumstances beyond the selection criteria your company used - preferably in Law or Employment sections (where I and others who know a bit about this are more often found).