Redundant and pregnant

Hi everyone. I''m new to the site and could use some advice, please bear with me...

My husband and I separated almost 2 years ago after his drunken violence became too much. I moved out and since then I have begun divorce proceedings. The Nisi has been granted but Absolute is still some way off as he has done nothing to organise the sale or transfer of equity of our mortgaged property. He pays the mortgage, I pay my rent and our finances have been completely separate from the point I moved out.

I have moved on with my life and met a wonderful man whom I now live with. This week we found out that I''m in the very early stages of pregnancy with my first child!

Work wise, I have been made redundant and am currently working my notice. I am due to finish in December and the baby will be due in May. I have been full-time at the same place for over 10 years and after paying off the loan I took to buy a car when leaving my husband, I''ll have around £5k left.

So, what do I want from you?! I guess I''m after some information from people more educated than me around the benefits I''d be entitled to if I can''t find a new job straight away. I''ve never claimed anything before and am not sure if I''d be entitled to Maternity Allowance given as the divorce isn''t finalised? Or as I have "a formal interest" in a property. (I think once sorted, my half would amount to around £10k) My current partner works full time and earns a modest £18k so we''re by no means rolling in it!

Anyway, if you''re still reading, thank you! Any advice or info would be very gratefully received!

Welcome to wiki. Congratulations on the baby.

I thought maternity benefit is payable regardless of savings etc so the fact your not divorced and have a benefit in a house shouldn''t make a difference.

What stage are you in trying to sort finances. Have you applied to court?

Thanks for your thoughts. I''m not sure how long I''d be eligible for Maternity Allowance for? I''m still technically married and I believe it''s a shorter period of time if you''ve been married in the run up to the birth?

My solicitor wants me to take him to court but I''m reluctant to do so as my fear is that fees would probably eat up a decent amount of the equity I''d get back. I was getting quite stressed by it all so decided to concentrate on work issues first, then deal with him after - one thing at a time and all that!

go on entiltedto.org or .co.uk, and put thefigures in.

Maternity allowance is around £130.00 a week for 26 weeks, or maybe a bit longer now, then nothing for another 26 weeks, but they pay your NI credits.

Do check your dates though, if you are pregnant more than 13 weeks by the last day of your job, then you could be entilted to maternity pay, which is 90% of your earnings for I think a few months, then MA.
Your entiltements don''t change if you are married or not.

Nearly forgot...CONGRATULATIONS!!!!