Child benefit and home birth

Jo_R_2

Hi guys, I need a quick reminder, my memory is terrible at the mo - blame it on baby brain say I! :rotfl:

Baby due on Tuesday, home birth planned. What happens with child benefit forms? I know I have read this before but can't think what the answer is - you wouldn't believe how forgetful I am, we have to wait two hours for our dinner as *someone* forgot to take the pastry out of the freezer

We're already claiming CB for one child btw.

Thanks!

CIS

Child Benefit forms are available online, you just need to print it off and send it in with the birth certificate.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/menus/child_benefit.htm

Also remember to update your tax credits.

mellyp

Even though you have a homebirth, you should still get your 'Bounty Pack', which you get in hospital, this also inlcudes the child benefit claim form.

I had my DS at home Dec 04, and just asked the community midwife if she could pick up a bounty pack for me when she visited after the birth. She brought me one the following day.

Good luck with the birth!!

looby75

If I remember correctly we were given the child benefit forms when we went to register ds. You can't claim cb until you have a birth cert anyway so that's why the hospital doesn't hand them out anymore.

Good luck with the home birth BTW I had one planned with ds but it had to be called off at 36 weeks due to possible complications. I'm sure you will have a wonderful experience

lil_me

We got ours from the registry office when we went to register my sons birth.

knithappens

i had my son at home too, and got the forms from the registry office!! Good luck with the birth. Not long now!!

lil_me

Forgot that bit, good luck

Rikki

I had No1 son in the labour suit at hosital. (active birth) No lay down and push for me.

No2 Son was a planned home birth.

Fran

Let us know how you get on Jo_R, I don't think we've had a birth on the benefits board! :j :beer:

BernadetteN

A little reminder about what to take with you to the Register Office, to get a birth certificate in the first place. We forgot to take no4's NHS number with us (which you will be given soon after birth once the midwife has informed the hospital and someone has entered the birth on their database) and got a telling off for forgetting to supply it! We also have to show our marriage certificate each time because I have not changed my surname and otherwise I cannot prove this fact which also appears on each of our children's birth certificate.

clairec79

It depends where you are Bernadette - here the midwife will inform the registry office so you haven't got to take it with you.

I got my child benefit forms from the job centre (I was working there so just took one before I went on maternity leave), otherwise mw can get them from the bounty packs, but quite often they get forgotten for homebirths unless you keep reminding/bugging them. Purely as the community midwives where I am, don't go to the hospital where the Bounty packs are kept that often (well you do go back after a homebirth to get rid of placenta/sterlise equipment but if it's in the evening/weekend the bounty reps lock the packs away