Im Having A baby!

Gosh, I just found out yesterday that I was pregnant! I don't know when I am due yet but I am going to my doctor on Friday. I'm so very excited! I will welcome any advice on what I should start doing. And also, my husband is disabled and doesn't work, and nor do I at the moment. Is there any advice for how my husband can get benefits for the baby? Thanks ahead of time and I'll keep you updated once I know more!

Congratulations!!!! So exciting for you!!!

As for benefits ... presumably you or your husband is already claiming some sort of benefits, yes? You will continue to receive those but you (or probably more likely your husband, if he is British) can also claim child tax credit and child benefit.  These are claimed through the Inland Revenue department once the baby  is born.

You may also be eligible for maternity allowance and there are some other bonus payments now for pregnant mums. Have a squizz at this thread for some useful links to the latest info:

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=19358.0

No information to add as *Liz* covered it all, I just wanted to say CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Congratulations!!!! 

Congrats!

You also might be eligible for a £500 SureStart grant in addition to the HiP grant.  I'm not sure how it works with non-UK nationals but it's worth looking into as that is specifically designed for people/families already claiming benefits.

Congrats!

CONGRATS!!

Congrats!

Thank you for all the well wishes!

I Looked at those benefits/grants and I think it might be best to wait till we get to a Midwife and ask her, considering that she probably knows exactly what we can apply for. This also keeps me from stressing about it

I Looked at those benefits/grants and I think it might be best to wait till we get to a Midwife and ask her, considering that she probably knows exactly what we can apply for. This also keeps me from stressing about it

It's not likely she will know because you have immigration restrictions.  IME they know about sure start grant and health in pregnancy grant, that's it. 

You might be eligible for the Health in Pregnancy grant, but probably not because it's subject to immigration controls.  http://campaigns2.direct.gov.uk/money4mum2be/en/

You might be eligible for the Sure Start Maternity Grant.  http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/DG_10018854

You have to have worked a while to qualify for Maternity Allowance and it doesn't sound like you've been here long enough for that by here you are: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/DG_10018869

But other than these your spouse cannot claim any extra benefits until the baby is born, as which time he can apply for Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit, that's the caveat of having children when you're not on ILR yet.

Claiming MA will also affect all his benefits except DLA because all the rest are means-tested.

I seriously doubt your midwife will know anything about your eligibility for pregnancy/child-related benefits.  A) it's not their job to; B) most of their patients are British citizens (most likely anyway) so it's not something they deal with often.  Actually, your best bet is a combination of DWP & the Home Office if you have any specific queries that aren't answered online.

No advice but wanted to say congrats and wish you luck!

Thanks WestHighlandWay, tristessa and Aless!

All right I will make my husband do all that then since it mostly relates to his benefits anyway. Then on the grants I'll have him call as well. He might be able to get them where as I can't. I haven't worked at all due to the circumstance of my husband being disabled. With the benefits my husband receives we live well and i take care of his needs that he cant do himself, but if I got a job we would lose 2/3's of his benefits and there is no way I can get a job that will cover the amount of money that we loose. I am pertty young and didn't finish college so my options are mostly retail and food service at the moment.

 I was wondering about what happens next, I have an appointment on Friday with one of the GP's. I know this will basically be for another test to make sure I am Pregnant. But what will happen from there? I am very new at this since this is my first and I'm confused  .

Thanks for all the well wishes!

Once your pregnancy is confirmed by the GP you'll be referred to the midwife team for your area and then you'll be scheduled in for a booking in appointment where they will go over everything and give you your antenatal records book that will keep all the data for your pregnancy (I carried that book with me EVERYWHERE just incase I went into labor I had my records with me). There's really not much that you'll have to figure out. They'll have you go over what type of birth you want and review your medical history in detail to find out if you're considered high risk or not and need to have your pregnancy handled by a consultant or if you qualify for a midwife led pregnancy.

All right I will make my husband do all that then since it mostly relates to his benefits anyway. Then on the grants I'll have him call as well. He might be able to get them where as I can't.

They are for you because you are the one who is pregnant.  So you might be eligible for the Sure Start one but if the Health in Pregnancy one is subject to immigration controls he won't be able to get it.