Low income and pregnant - no help?

[mree]

Hi, I'm hoping someone can give me some advice to pass on to my friend, who's getting increasingly desperate! She's due to have her first child in May, and is on her own. She had been living with her grandma, but once the baby arrives the place will be overcrowded, and her grandma's a little old to be coping with a new baby all over again!

She went to the housing association for the area and applied for housing, but was told she wasn't a priority. Private rented accomodation is expensive, but she's desperate to be settled somewhere before her son arrives, so she's just taken on a 6-month tenancy of a small flat at £100pw. She works part-time in a sandwich shop, and gets £125pw after tax and NI.

Today she's been to the Job Centre to ask for advice on housing and council tax benefits, and has ben told she's eligible for NOTHING. She's going to have £25pw to pay bills, council tax (about £95pm), buy food, travel and baby things once she's paid her rent. This can't be right, can it? Please someone, help!

[poppynurse]

It sounds like she should be on housing and council tax benefit...I would ask the council for the forms and fill them in- she's got nothing to lose. I would have thought she could claim working tax credit - she'll need to ring the tax credit folk. Hope she gets it sorted

[BeauBrummie]

She would also be entitled to Child benefit which is around £20 per week I beleive for a first child

Beau

[qbal]

Definitely apply for housing and council tax benefit since she is on a low wage. She may not get 100% but at that level of pay she would be eligible for some. Also she is eligible for working tax credit if she is over 25, or over 16 if she has a child. ring them to claim it on 08453003900. more info on Working Tax Credit : Directgov - Money, tax and benefits

Child benefit will be payable once the baby is born at 18.80 a week. There should be a form to claim in the "bounty pack" she will get from the hospital after the baby is born.

[Kerrie78]

I think that Surestart may be able to help if there is one in her area, you would have to use a search engine, but they provide all kinds of help through pregnancy and until a child is aged 5.
I have used my surestart group since getting pregnant and they have a built in CAB service which runs on a Wednesday morning, they hold all sorts of groups such as baby massage, chat morning, trips etc. But they have qualified staff who should be able to help your friend, especially with getting what she is entitled to.

[davethorp]

She should be eligible for the sure start maternity grant £500 too once she starts claiming tax credits (as well as working tax credit if she continues to work she'll get child tax credit which is a fair amount) or any other benefit

[mree]

Thanks everyone for your advice and kind words, I'll pass them on and let you know how she gets on.