let go while pregnant.. and ilness benefit

Anela2013

hi I was let go two weeks ago from my work.. search is on but no results yet. I am
18 weeks pregnant so I am too early and don't qualify for a maternity benefit.. I was awarded with jobseeker benefit this is for 9 months so worst scenario (if I won't find a job) baby will be 3 months old and I will have no income.. ( I am
married and my husband works in retail full time) I lost my first pregnancy at 10 weeks and had a baby girl born at 34 weeks with heart defect and she passed away shortly after.. I did have too much amniotic fluid previously and have a really bad back .. my Gp told me he can
put me on ilness benefit knowing my history etc ( it is more into it but I will spare you the details) but I did say no and want to try to find a job.. if I won't find anything till end of July and depending how I feel of course if he will put me on it for last 3 months of my pregnancy what will happen next ? baby will be born in October but can I go back and claim jobseeker benefit if I will have a new born? don't think
so ;-( please spare me nasty comments if am stressed enough with pregnancy and unemployment.. thank you

ttsnar

You are entitled to claim Illness Benefit if your doctor states you are unfit for work. You then sign back for any Jobseekers Benefit you have left when your doctor finds you fit for work and you are looking for full time employment. Hope this helps!

ABajaninCork

No real advice to add, but wanted to wish you all the very best for your pregnancy and beyond.

As a matter of interest: Why were you let go? You know your employer can't use your pregnancy as an excuse, don't you?

TheBeach

I think you should go on Illness Benefit as that is payable for up to 2 years (I'd imagine there's nothing per se to stop you from looking for work while on it?!), while Jobseeker's Benefit is only payable for maximum of 9 months. If you do wish to stay on Jobseekers Benefits, you could apply for Jobseekers 'allowance' when the 9 months are up. This will be means tested. You could try googling Jobseeker's Allowance Calculator and inputting your other half's earnings etc to see if/how much Jobseeker's Allowance you would be entitled to after the 9 months. Given that he works in retail you mind find that your entitlement won't be too low.
Sorry to hear of your losses btw and best of luck with your baby.

wmpdd3

you should call the maternity section as you can go on maternity early.

find out this date, it's can be after you leave your work but I am not sure how long. go on illness benefit until maternity. then if you need to, you will still have jsb. when maternity ends. also you will be able do courses etc while on jsb for free hopefully increasing you job prospects.

also you would still have the option to transfer to illness benefit after maternity if it ends close to delivery.

also get on the welfare website and get a statement of your prsi contributions as you will always looking for payments that are based on your insurance payments and not means.

best of luck.



this would give you 6 months breathing space.