Hi Guys....
Ok my daughter is 16 weeks old now and I am on maternity leave from work and start on basic SMP next month. My partner left when our daughter was 10 weeks old and whilst we are trying to sort things out I'm honestly not sure we will. He is financially supporting her but I have a mortgage to pay, a child to take care of and a job to go back to in September. I earn pretty poor money and realistically I am going to be working to pay childcare as it's extremely expensive in this area.

My question is what benefits would I be entitled too and is it actually worth me working full time or am I better off financially part time? I feel extremely confused and have no idea how to cope financially. I really don't want to miss my daughter growing up by working all the hours. Help!
Thanks
Donna. x

Sorry to hear of your problems. Make a appointment with the job centre. They tell you everything in every different situatuion. Also you should get help with childcare, morgage, council tax. You should be able to claim child tax credits, working tax credits (if you work more than 16hours), child benefit (which you prob already get)

Good luck.
Stacey & 18wk Olivia
x x x

You have to have a calculation done. You can do a rough guide on the tax credit site but you should prob go and have some accurate calculations done in your area. If you qualify for enough tax credits then most of the childcare gets paid and this way at least you're working for money and not just to pay childcare and part time may be the way to have best of both worlds. There should be somewhere in your community to help with this, usually citizens advice, welfare rights officer or the employment centres.
Sounds like you've got a lot to deal with just now. Good luck, you'll figure something out with a bit of advice

Jen