Advice needed

Duncombe

You earn too much for WTC, assuming you are single.

Once you are alot closer to your due date, phone the tax credits number (which is posted all over this site) and ask them for the forms for CTC. They will do a calculation over the phone to check your entitlement.

You will receive a bounty pack in hospital which will contain the CB form. Alternatively, tax credits can send you one.

Unless he is deceased, the father of your child should be contributing to their upkeep, so those payments will also help.

Kataratarina

Thanks i am hoping to go back full time and do as much overtime as possible once i am back as i wont be able to survive on part-time wages. I am also hoping my mum or dad has retired by then and can help with childcare-my work does offer childcare vouchers so will speak with them if i need my child in nursery. i am lucky that i am get 6mths full pay so will set aside savings for when i go onto SMP so i can take as long as possible off, dont think i could afford 3mths unpaid leave.

Thanks again.

AnxiousMum

Kataratarina wrote: »

I am wondering can someone help me as Im not at all sure how TC &WTC work.

You can apply for tax credits, child benefit at the same time you can apply for child support -when the child is born.

Sorry you feel it inappropriate for posters to bring up child support - but is that not putting the responsibility onto the very people who conceived the child? Your ex has a financial obligation WHICH YOUR CHILD WILL BE ENTITLED TO.

I think you will find now that it won't really affect anything mean tested that you get anyways, but will certainly give your child a little more in life, and a less stressed out mother

Sam____2

Blimey!!

OP, you'll get forms to fill out for child benefit once the baby is here, you'll then need to register the birth and send the birth certificate away with the forms, do this as soon after the birth as you can.
You should also be entitled to claim CTC and WTC, giving them your estimated income for this year, once back at work you may also receive up to 80% of your child care costs. You should also apply for LHA and council tax benefit as you may be eliginle for these.
Obviously I think it's sensible and only right to get some finincial support from the baby's father, either come to some arangement yourselves and if this is not possible contact the CSA.
It's not as scary as you think it's going to be, thousands have done it before and I'm pretty sure thousands will do it after you, all the best xx

Mollycat13

You mentioned childcare vouchers from your employer....
DON'T take them. You will be much better off claiming childcare costs via tax credits (provided you work more than 16 hours a week) They will pay up to 80% of costs can't remember the limit though.