Linzi

I just found out this morning that Im pregnant and my OH and I are both really happy about it, but panicking a bit when we've looked at what we're entitled to benefits wise.

We both earn around £14k a year, and have no disabilities. We probably could afford it if we moved into a smaller house etc, but we've only got a 2 bed atm anyway.

Are we entitled to anything other than child benefit and working tax credits? Because we've worked out that this totals about £40 a week and we really could do with a bit more to keep our head above water.

If we cant get much else we might not be able to keep it because we dont think we can afford it

Please help if you can!

Thank you, I know this is my first post but hopefully I'll be hanging around for a bit now!

xxx

Wobbles

Who can afford a baby hun It all fits in and that is a good yearly salary (14k each?).

Have a look here:
http://www.taxcredits.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/HomeNew.aspx

also you may get help with housing if you are renting?
http://www.entitledto.co.uk/default.aspx
^ this one give syou a rough guide of money you may be entitled too including tax creds & housing

You may be entitled to this but doubtful going on yor post:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/...rth/DG_4002854
&
http://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/en/ho...nonline_s1.asp

Maternity grant - some say they have had to apply after baby arrive its up to £500
http://www.surestart.gov.uk/surestar...aternitygrant/
More details:
http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/...13950.xml.html

And lastly I 'think' you can apply for income support, child benefit, child tax credits, working tax credits (you prob do/have applied in past already). Child benefits I think is the monthly one & you get a single child allowance too or something. All very confusing to me still.

Hope some of this helps.

Tilly

Will you be going back to work?

Sorry I can't be a great help but I get tax credits and child benefit in my name and my boyfriend gets working tax credits. We get quite a nice little amount from them at the moment even though my bf is on a pretty good wage. Try not to worry too much, im sure you'll make it work.

Linzi

Yeah Ill be going back. Not sure how people can afford not too. But looking forward to my time off I must say!

Thanks for all those links as well, very helpful especially housing benefit, which I didn't think we could get.

Thanks!

mickey

I also still have to look into this child benefit, child tax credit and working tax credit!

if I have read through all of it ...

... how soon can we apply? do we need to wait until baby is born, 'cos of birth certificate as a proof?

Tilly

For child benefit you usually get the application form in the bounty pack you receive from hospital, they back date it to your babys birth date. Same with the tax credits.

bexxie

Dunno coz I get nothing I have to work full time instead but dont mind because Only I want to pay for my children not the goverment. Its a choice you make when you have children. I am actually going to vote conservative if they run an election 2008 because I think Labour are so bloody namby-pamby with supporting people. But not those with a genuine need.

I think on 14K it works out 40£ a month from Child tax credits but if you play it right and was to give up work you would get a lot more as 14K is considered under the threshold so maybe better for just one of you to work.

daft the way the system is worked out TBH it is crap,they should sort it out fairly.

Good luck hunnie sure it will all work out. It isnt now they cost though its when your 7 year old is swanning aorund in boots that you know you wouldnt buy as too dear for yourself but for them anything,lol

mickey

I read this somewhere, but somehow I did not find those apps in my bounty pack.
But I'm sure I can find it online, thx

I am not familiar with the benefits over here as I am from Germany.
In Germany everybody gets something called children money (until child has finished education or if still in education by 18 until 27) and now parent money (not sure for how long as this was introduced when I was not living in Germany anymore)
Is there something similar in UK?
I mean something what everbody gets not dependant on your income or something else?
And if I am not working, but only my partner is and we are not married, what would both of us possibly be entitled to?

Would be great if sb could tell me, I really don't have a clue

thx, Angie

Amanda

The only thing that is not dependant on income is Child Benefit. Everyone gets this, no matter what you earn. It's £18.10 a week for the first child, and £12.10 a week for each additional child. Why the second kid costs less than the first is beyond me, but hey ho.

The tax credit system is really odd as it's based on your previous years earnings and not what you currently earn. So basically, I lost £10k last year because I was on maternity leave, so we get almost £300 a month at the minute, but next year, we'll only get about £50 a month. I have no idea how we're going to cope then. But we will, because you do.

mickey

you def will need to have the birth certificate to apply for the child benefit and the tax credit, no?

so we only can apply once the baby is born, no?

thx, Angie