What would i be entitled to

katey23

Hi there
Im currently a single mother with a 4 yr old and a baby due in august. I am now on maternity leave from work and so i am on the understanding that i will still be able to get working tax credit for 39 weeks leave which i will be taking.
Im not too sure what else I will be entitled to when baby 2 is here. I heard if you recieve working tax credit you do not qualify for the sure start grant is this true even though i get a single parent element on my child tax credit? Also will there be an increase in the amount of child tax credit i recieve?
Im aware I will get an increase in child benefit (which would be a help).
Sorry for all the questions but im trying to budget myself on everything for fear of not being able to cope on smp!

thanks

DaisyFlower

Once the new baby arrives your CTC should increase (even if only by the baby element) and you'll get CB at the 2nd child rate. The sure start grant criteria is available on the government site so you can see if you are eligible.

WTC will be paid for 39 weeks from the date you finished work so bear in mind you will have had a good chunk of this prior to the baby being born so you may need to work out if you will return after OML or if you have enough put aside to take AML.

In another post, you state your OH is paying the household bills whilst you are on maternity leave, therefore you are technically a couple so for the purposes of tax credits and the sure start grant these should be based on joint incomes rather than "single parent" status.

bestpud

DaisyFlower wrote: »

Once the new baby arrives your CTC should increase (even if only by the baby element) and you'll get CB at the 2nd child rate. The sure start grant criteria is available on the government site so you can see if you are eligible.

WTC will be paid for 39 weeks from the date you finished work so bear in mind you will have had a good chunk of this prior to the baby being born so you may need to work out if you will return after OML or if you have enough put aside to take AML.

In another post, you state your OH is paying the household bills whilst you are on maternity leave, therefore you are technically a couple so for the purposes of tax credits and the sure start grant these should be based on joint incomes rather than "single parent" status.

Hmm, I agree.

Katey, you are hardly a single parent if you have someone covering all your bills for you... :think:

katey23

Well actually things have changed since then and i live alone now as myself and my partner have split.

AsknAnswer

Regarding the Sure start maternity grant, you can claim if you receive working tax credit, BUT there has to be a disability element attached to it. OR, if you receive child tax credit at a rate higher than that of the family element, you will qualify. If you don't receive either form of the above then it is either Income Support, Income Based Jobseekers, Income Related Employment and Support Allowance, or Pension Credit to meet the qualifying benefit criteria. You can claim any time from 11 weeks before your expected week of confinement up to three months after the birth. You need to be receiving advice on your pregnancy/new baby from a health professional, who must complete the declaration on the form.

There is also a healthy in pregnancy grant from HMRC - your health professional should provide you with a form for this.