F/T student & Pregnant

Nicky321

A friend of the family is 18 years old and currently 31 weeks pregnant in full time further education studying year 1 of a 2 year course. She lives with her mum who works part time and claims Child benefit and tax credits for her. She is hopefully going to finish this years education and will be 36 weeks on the last year of term. In september she is hoping to return to college and study the 2nd year of the course.

The babys father is nearly 18 lives with his parents and in full time further education and is due to complete his 2 year course in June. In september he is hoping to go to university to continue his studies.

Is there any benefits the expectant mother will be able to claim to help her getting things before the baby is due and after?
She has been to the local job centre and been advised she cant claim anything until after she turns 19, as her mum can claim tax credits, child benefit and the sure start grant once the baby arrives.

I have been on entitledto.com and searched the net, but have not been able to find the right answers, so hoping someone on this forum deals with this situation and be able to help

cheers

Nicky321

Still browsing through the threads on this forum, does anyone work for dwp or CAB who may be able to give some advice?

Oldernotwiser

I'm not sure but I think that the Jobcentre's advice is reasonably accurate as there's a big difference between before and after the baby's born. I've read something about a hundred pounds or so grant for healthy eating in pregnancy but I don't think she'll get much else until after the birth.

It's not really my area so I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

Nicky321

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I'm not sure but I think that the Jobcentre's advice is reasonably accurate as there's a big difference between before and after the baby's born. I've read something about a hundred pounds or so grant for healthy eating in pregnancy but I don't think she'll get much else until after the birth.

It's not really my area so I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

I understand there being a big difference between before and after the baby is born.... but they said she cant claim anything in her own right until shes 19 and her mum no longer receives CT and CB for her.

Oldernotwiser

Nicky321 wrote: »

I understand there being a big difference between before and after the baby is born.... but they said she cant claim anything in her own right until shes 19 and her mum no longer receives CT and CB for her.

Will she be 19 before the baby is born?

I don't think that she can claim anything for herself as a parent if her own parents are still claiming for her as a child. Again, I hope someone will correct me as I'll admit to not being certain about this.

Edit: from the HM Revenue and Customs site;


"We can't pay Child Benefit if your child gets:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Incapacity Benefit
• tax credits
• Employment and Support Allowance

You must tell us if your child gets any of these benefits. This is different to the benefits you get. Your Child Benefit will stop according to the day of the week your child started to get their benefits."

This is the same thing that the Jobcentre said but from the other point of view. As I said, the family can't claim both. The other money I mentioned is called the Health in Pregnancy Grant.

Nicky321

Thanks for the advice. The baby will be about 8 months old by the time she is 19.

angelicmary85

The Health in pregnanacy grant is a £190 one-off payment that the governmet pays when the expectant mum is over 25weeks gone. The form will come from her midwife. It's just basically a grant that they give her for seeing a midwife/GP during the course of the pregnancy.

I thought the Sure Start Grant would be paid to the expectant mother over the age of 18...I thought the gran would only be able to fill in the claim form if the expectant mum was under the age of 18 so would still be classed as 'a dependant having a dependant' so this may be something that the expectant mum would have to sort out. You can ask for a form anytime from the Job Centre so it may be best if they get the form so they can have a look and see what it says?

clairec79

She can claim in her own right (after the birth) IF her mother gives up her claim to CTC etc for her - they can't get both

Nicky321

thanks again for the replies..... So the expectant mums mum would be able to claim the sure start maternity grant for her....

I read on the form something about "be getting benefit for the expectant mum if she is under 20"

Does this mean as long as the Gran, is receiving tax credits & child benefit for the mother to be she will be able to claim? or does she still have to be receiving income support?

The gran is a single parent who works part time and is receiving CB and TC for the expectant mum.....
if that makes sense.

clairec79

She has to be getting more than the basic amount of child tax credit (which is about £550 a year)

angelicmary85

It's just sooo confusing isn't it??