Child income support

lovelldr

Or whatever they call it...

Basically, we are due our first baby at beginning of the month, and I wondered what money we were entitled to for the baby?

We haven't been told anything by the midwife (who is useless, but that's a different story). So I was wondering if anyone would be able to help us with what monetry support we would be entitled to?

I would appreciate it if anyone could help me out with this, as we are currently looking in to everything we are entitled to.

Many thanks

Valli

here

Child benefit. hit the links
You claim it when baby is born.
It's not actually the midwife's job to tell you about this stuff...she (or he) is responsible for the health care of mum and babe..and no, I am not a midwife!

You also need to check out Working Families Tax Credits and Child Tax Credits but you can google them if you can't find them on the HMRC website.

lovelldr

But we asked the mid-wife, and she could've just had a leaflet or something. Reason I say midwife is crap, is that she didn't do the 30 week blood test until we asked her to (so it was a little late), and the last time we went before that, she said she wasn't going to do a blood test because she couldn't be bothered. Even when we asked for the 30 week test, she said it was too late and to come back the following day and get the nurse to do it. When asked at reception to book for the next day, she said the bloke doesn't come till later so midwife has plenty of time to take the blood.

Then, the results came back and OH was aneimic (however you spell ), so doctor gave her some iron tablets (went for different reason, but doc noticed anyway), then when we went to the midwife, she said that she doesn't know why OH had been put on iron tablets?! Then there was the fact we told her we'd been monitored at the hospital for no movements, and 5 mins later she told us that if we have reduced movement and worried that we can go to the hospital, in a way that showed she hadn't even listend to what we'd told her!

Can you now see why we don't really trust the mid-wife? lol. DOesn't seem to me like she's that worried about health of mother and baby...

Anyway, not having a go at you, and many thanks for the links

dmg24

As Valli has said, it is not the midwife's job to tell you about benefits.

You are an adult, you have access to the internet. Google is your friend.

mluton

Our Midwife is pants, now requested a change of midwife at 22 weeks.

OH is now on Iron supplement as a result of lack of commuication with midwife.

I was going to mention this, but it looks like you don't qualify:
http://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/content/redbridge/recorder/news/story.aspx?brand=RECOnline&category=newsIlford&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newsilford&itemid=WeED29%20Jan%202009%2012%3A58%3A20%3A363

lovelldr

dmg24 wrote: »

As Valli has said, it is not the midwife's job to tell you about benefits.

You are an adult, you have access to the internet. Google is your friend (as is www.entitledto.co.uk).

The same as in my job it's not my job to do a lot of what I do, but I actually still go ahead and do it...

I have used google and found some of the info, but you know, without knowing everything that is around available, how do I know that there is actually more help available that I've just missed...

Thank you for your (un)helpful comments...

mluton wrote: »

Our Midwife is pants, now requested a change of midwife at 22 weeks.

OH is now on Iron supplement as a result of lack of commuication with midwife.

I was going to mention this, but it looks like you don't qualify:
http://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/content/redbridge/recorder/news/story.aspx?brand=RECOnline&category=newsIlford&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newsilford&itemid=WeED29%20Jan%202009%2012%3A58%3A20%3A363

Unfortunately, we're unable to change mid-wives, as we only have 1 at our surgery who comes every fortnight...

Valli

When I had my DD (13 years ago yesterday BTW) they gave you a leaflet in the Bounty pack - and while pregnant I got something called 'Emma's Diary' (I think) and that had info in.
basically the thing is that everyone, regardless of situation, is entitled to Child Benefit. After that it is all means tested.

This brings to mind a friend of mine who, not married to her partner, did not claim the additional tax allowance that was then allowed for both married men (regardless of whether they had a family) or unmarried couples who did have a child. I told her about the allowance, they claimed it, and got a 4 figure sum back, going back about 7 years!

So you are right - if you don't know what you are entitled to you won't claim it...and finding out entitlements is not straightforward.

One would assume (but I have never used their service so cannot be certain) CAB would help, also Surestart.

Good luck (and thank you for thanking me!)

Incidentally National Childbirth Trust hold regular nearly new sales (NCT) you can get fabulous clothing and equipment at bargain prices. They too might be able to help with advice if money is tight...

mluton

Yeah the Bounty pack still contains 'Emma's Diary'

lovelldr

We never received the bount pack for new mothers, as the midwife "didn't have one available" when she came to visit us. Subsequently, we have never received the pack...

Many thanks for the help.

Will try popping in to a surestart centre near where I work, and see what info they can give us...

Many thanks again

dmg24

lovelldr wrote: »

The same as in my job it's not my job to do a lot of what I do, but I actually still go ahead and do it...

I have used google and found some of the info, but you know, without knowing everything that is around available, how do I know that there is actually more help available that I've just missed...

Thank you for your (un)helpful comments...


Unfortunately, we're unable to change mid-wives, as we only have 1 at our surgery who comes every fortnight...

In which case I have edited out the link which would detail your entitlement. :rolleyes:

blackpool_mummy

i am 28 plus weeks pregnant ans saw my midwife on monday she was very good gave me a grant from to claim 190 pounds and sorted out my sure start grant for me to plus told me where to go for other help , think you must just have a bad 1 . if you ring your local job center plus they will tell u every u can claim i did this and they was very helpful regards ang xxx