Hi - I wouldn't go down the job centre, some of the staff are good, but it very much depends who you get! Also if your partner is working (and you live with him) there won't be much they can do for you. However, it is true, you do not have to be on Income Support to qualify for the £500 which is called a Sure Start Maternity Grant. As your boyf works though, you will have to wait until your baby is born to claim it, as long as you are on more that the basic family element of child tax credits (ask the tax credit people). There isn't anything that I know of that you will be able to claim in your own right (except maternity pay if you have been working - find out about Maternity Alowance if you do not qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay)as you will be assessed as a household. Take a look at the 'working families' website (they have good factsheets) and they also have a FREE helpline.

As far as housing goes, your local authority MAY have a responsibility to help you out - check out the Shelter website for more details. They also have an e-mail advice service and an emergency helpine number.

I know in the area that I live in there's a community furniture project (you have to be referred by a midwife for example to buy stuff from them) and also a really lovely organisation who just give away lovely new and secondhand baby clothes and equipment. Worth asking your midwife if there's anything around you like that.

If you do end up renting, then don't forget that you don't have to be on benefits to claim housing benefit or council tax benefit, if you're on a low income check it out.

Hope it helps! Soph

we got the surestart maternity allowance for 500 and we weren't in receipt of any benefits just to let you know X

hiya,its so hard when ur bringing up a baby,you can only get a sure start maternaty grant if you are claiming income support,i dont work but my hubby does,we get child benifit,and everyone gets child tax credits but working tax credit depends on what your partner earns,go down to your local job centre.gud luk.x

hiya

the best thing for you to do would be to go to your local job center/ benefit office and explain your situation giving them details of how much your income is and the hours your partner works.

You are entitled to a maternity allowence of £500 to get things in for the baby but i am not sure if everyone gets it or you have to be in reciept of income support but best to ask.

You will get child benefit when the baby is born even if your partner works and will also be entitled to working tax credit i think but again your benefit office will be able to let you know. Or even go to your citizen's advice bureau they are great with things like that, hope that has helped a bit? Let me know how you get on

All the best lolxxxx

first things first hello to every1 im new on this site and would love to have people to talk to and also to give advice to. now the problem!!! ive just reached halfway through my pregnancy and dont seem to have anything coming in im worried about not being able to provide for my baby my boyfriend works and earns a reasonable amount of money but theres alot of thing we need to pay for should i have some money coming in as the mother?? we still need to get things for the baby and have no where to live im very concerned about my baby and just need some advice any1 plz wb soon hope to hear from you! thanks xx