2009/10 Pregnancy - Help
Rough Cut:
and Advice
Produced by Middlesex University Money, Welfare and International Advice Service
This information sheet is intended as a guide for income of below £16,040 (08-09 figures).
individuals who become pregnant during their studies. • Health in Pregnancy Grant.
It covers entitlement to funding and useful resource This is a new one-off payment of £190 paid to
references. expectant mums to help keep them well and healthy
in the later stages of pregnancy. You can apply
I think I am pregnant. What should I do? for this once you reach your 25th week of
First things first - you will need to take a test. pregnancy, regardless of income or savings.
You can get free pregnancy tests at your GP,
family planning clinic or young person’s clinic such For more information about any of the above and to
as the Brook Centre. For further information on find out how to apply, speak to your doctor or
where you can take a free pregnancy test, you may midwife. Alternatively read the information on
wish to visit www.brook.org.uk (advice for under www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTa
25s only). Alternatively you can visit the Family xCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/
Planning Association’s website at www.fpa.org.uk. index.htm
Many chemists provide tests but these will incur a
small fee. What other financial help is available?
Generally, any extra support usually starts once the
I am pregnant. What shall I do? baby is born. This is the position for student
You will need time to adjust to the thought of being funding and for more details about this please see
pregnant. Give yourself time to consider your Rough Cut: 2009/10 Money for Student Parents.
options. A baby will change your life as well as However, if you have been working or in receipt of
those of others around you. Therefore it is certain welfare benefits, there may be financial
important to get advice on your options early. Here support you can receive during the pregnancy.
are some useful contacts:
Brook Centre 0808 802 1234 (under 25 years) For students who have been working.
www.brook.org.uk If you have been an employee, check the terms
British Pregnancy Advisory Service 08457 304030 and conditions in your contract of employment as
www.bpas.org you may have maternity rights stated there. The
Marie Stopes Clinic 0845 300 8090 key one is maternity pay, paid whilst you are away
www.mariestopes.org.uk preparing for and looking after your baby. If there
Family Planning Association 0845 122 8690 is no provision within your contract and you satisfy
www.fpa.org.uk the required continuous employment and earning
conditions, you may be entitled to:
Whilst I am pregnant what health benefits can
I receive? • Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP).
• Free prescriptions and free dental treatment. The earliest you can be paid is the 11th week
You must apply for a maternity exemption certificate before your expected week of childbirth and it is
on form FW8 available from your health visitor, paid for up to 39 weeks. If you are not entitled to
doctor or midwife. It is available to all pregnant SMP you may be entitled to receive a Maternity
women. Allowance or the Employment Support Allowance
instead.
• Healthy Start Vouchers.
These allow you to buy formula milk, fresh milk, • Paternity Pay.
fruit and vegetables during your pregnancy and until Many fathers can benefit from paid time off work
your children reach four years old. You may apply once the baby is born. Again, check employment
for vouchers for essential vitamins too. To qualify, contracts, but nevertheless there is Statutory
you or your family must receive Income Support, Paternity Pay if the employer does not make
income-based JSA or Child Tax Credits (but not provision. This would allow for two weeks leave to
Working Tax Credit unless your family is help settle with the baby and must be claimed from
receiving WTC run-on only) and have a family the employer.
For students who are claiming benefits: • Access to Learning Fund for unregistered
• Sure Start Maternity Grant. childcare.
You may be eligible for a payment of £500 if you • Dependants’ Grants (for nursing students).
are in receipt of Income Support, income-based Job
Seekers Allowance, Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit, • Parent Learning Allowances.
(paid at an amount which exceeds the family • Special Support Grants or Maintenance
element) or Working Tax Credit which includes the Grants for students who started from
disability or severe disability element. 2006/07 onwards.
The earliest you can claim this support is from time • Welfare Benefits such as Housing Benefit
from 11 weeks before the baby is due until three and Income Support (subject to an income
months after the baby is born. Applications are assessment and the rules of entitlement).
available at your local Job Centre Plus office or can
be downloaded from Your funding body may be able to tell you more
www.dwp.gov.uk/advisers/claimforms/sf100_print.pdf about many of these extra funds or you can look at
other Rough Cuts available on:
Where can I get further information about any http://www.mdx.ac.uk/24%2D7/mwas/rc.htm
of the above provisions? Or look at the Government website:
For further information contact the Money, Welfare http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/Un
and International Advice Service or see the iversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/FinanceFor
Government website: NewStudents/DG_10034864
www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTa
xCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/ Any questions?
index.htm For basic information look at:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/lifeevent/famchild/
Thinking of interrupting your course during Or contact the Money, Welfare and International
your pregnancy? Advice Service on your campus.
If you are thinking of interrupting your studies at
any time there may be implications regarding your Archway: Chloe Berman, ext. 6182
programme and course funding. Questions you c.berman@mdx.ac.uk
should think about are: Cat Hill: Kevin Ward ext. 5312
• How will this effect my current funding from K.ward@mdx.ac.uk
the Student Loans Company or the NHS Hendon:
(for nursing students). Julie Roberts/Jude Cringle/Kevin Ward/Chloe
• What will happen about my current fee Berman (Wednesdays only)
charges? ext. 6527/6482/6589
• Who should I inform? j.roberts@mdx.ac.uk
j.cringle@mdx.ac.uk
• How will this impact on my studies if I k.ward@mdx.ac.uk
suspend mid-way through a year? C.berman@mdx.ac.uk
Christine Struwe, Visa and Immigration Adviser
As a starting point see Rough Cut: 2009/10 ext.5917, c.struwe@mdx.ac.uk
Interrupting, Transferring or Repeating Your Studies Trent Park:
and always seek advice before finalising decisions. Geraldine Bailey, Head of Service
ext. 6074
Once the baby is born, what extra support can g.bailey@mdx.ac.uk
I receive as a student?
The support your receive will depend on many Christine Struwe, (Wednesdays only) ext. 5326
circumstances but generally the sorts of things to c.struwe@mdx.ac.uk
find out more about are: Middlesex University Money, Welfare and International Advisory Service
• Child Benefit. have made every effort to ensure that the information contained in this
leaflet is accurate. Middlesex University however cannot be held
• Child Tax Credits. responsible for any omissions or errors. This publication can only be a
guide and is not intended to replace the complex and diverse legislation
• Childcare Grants if you use registered covered. Statutes and regulations may change during the year without
childcare. notice. If in doubt seek independent advice.