UC/Child Benefits/Maternity Pay
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You apply for UC online as long as you meet all the requirements for it. Once you apply and meet the requirements I think you are then given an appointment at a job center in person to go over everything they will ask you questions about your income if u live with anyone else, do you need help paying towards bills if you are the primary tenant or mortgage owner. Once you have UC you can then apply for child tax credits which is different from child benefits. Child benefits everyone is entitled to 48hrs after child has been registered. You will still get statutory maternity pay as long as your contract doesn't end before the 25th week of pregnancy and you are entitled and will receive all 39 weeks of maternity pay unless you get a job before then at which point it will automatically stop. This was how my sister set up her UC at least so not sure if it's changed.
I'd apply now
Hey I think you may still be able to get SMP you can get it if you worked up to the 15th week which I believe you will be if your working till Dec and if you worked for 26 weeks https://www.gov.uk/maternity-pay-leave/eligibility
@Willow @Julia yeah I’ll be 31 weeks when my contract finishes. So shall I be applying now? If my application goes through and I end up finding another position will it be a mess having to cancel my application?
As soon as you start a new job ur smp will automatically stop. I'm not sure whether yo apply for smp or you'll just automatically get it through ur job
you can apply whenever, but any income you get will take any of the money you are entitled too until you stop working