2 Year Spouse Visa. Can My Wife Or I Claim Any Other Benefit

[unfair]

My wife is British born and bred and I come from Ghana. I obtained my 2 year spouse visa in December of last year after previously being on a Post Study Work visa.
A month before my wife got pregnant, she lost her job hence had to start claiming maternity allowance of about £500 per month. I was, and still working and bring home about £1000 per month. She is also receiving child benefit of about £80 per month as well as child tax credit of about the same amount. Our rent is £425 per month and council tax £108 per month. Our household bills minus food expenses come up to nearly £250 per month.
The problem is the Maternity Allowance will soon come to an end and she'll have to go on Job Seekers Allowance. We don't receive any housing or council tax benefits.
I want to find out if there are any other benefits we could get as I bear the brunt of the bills ( I pay the rent and nearly all the bills) and we're literally living from hand to mouth without it affecting my ILR application next year
If we apply for housing and council tax benefit and we stop somewhere along the line before I make my application, will it still affect my application?
Thanks

[mochyn]

Your wife is entitled to Housing benefit and council tax benefit without affecting your ILR

[Wanderer]

Your wife is entitled to Housing benefit and council tax benefit without affecting your ILR

And don't forget to declare you own earnings on the forms, your own earnings are means tested for these benefits.

[unfair]

I am very grateful for all your answers.

I am being extremely cautious as, satisfying the immigration requirements of The Great Britain (no pun intended) is like walking a tightrope.

It is not my desire or the desire of my family to continue scrounging off the state. I apply for not less than 5 jobs a week and I mean well-tailored and designed applications but seldom get any response. Why is it so hard to get a good job as a foreigner in this country? Before you ask, yes I hold qualifications that have been assessed by UKNARIC as being equivalent to UK qualifications.

I am getting impatient as I want a comfortable life for my little girl. Teaching is on the menu for me now. PGCE start September this year may be and we'll see what the future holds.

My 'foreign' folk with the right qualifications, consider teaching. It is one of the most secure and well-paid jobs in this country albeit it being stressful especially with the rise of 'yobism' in this country.

Enough of my ranting. Good luck all and God bless.

[mochyn]

I am very grateful for all your answers.

I am being extremely cautious as, satisfying the immigration requirements of The Great Britain (no pun intended) is like walking a tightrope.

It is not my desire or the desire of my family to continue scrounging off the state. I apply for not less than 5 jobs a week and I mean well-tailored and designed applications but seldom get any response. Why is it so hard to get a good job as a foreigner in this country? Before you ask, yes I hold qualifications that have been assessed by UKNARIC as being equivalent to UK qualifications.

I am getting impatient as I want a comfortable life for my little girl. Teaching is on the menu for me now. PGCE start September this year may be and we'll see what the future holds.

My 'foreign' folk with the right qualifications, consider teaching. It is one of the most secure and well-paid jobs in this country albeit it being stressful especially with the rise of 'yobism' in this country.

Enough of my ranting. Good luck all and God bless.

Its hard to get a job in this country now even if you are British.
I sympathise with you about the work situation and as I know a few Ghanaiain people , I find them to be hard working courteous friendly people.
I wish you the best of luck