Council Tax Benefit - maternity

masted75

Hi
My wife is currently on maternity leave with first baby and is taking the full 12 months off. She normally works as a nurse but for the last few months has been receving SMP income only, as is normal. Now that the SMP payments have stopped (as she has reached the 9 months off stage), her income is currently £0. Are we entitled to Council Tax Benefit now?
I work part time, so only a small income there. we have no savings and are receiving child tax credit.

fluffy70

you may find that as she is now zero income you will not be entitled to anything (starnge as that may seem even though she is still legally employed) - when i was on maternity I was advised that if I chose to take the unpaid mat leave I would have to inform HMRC and as one parent would be deemed as non income (that would have been me) we would not qualify for one of the components of tax credit - WTC i think..... but back to topic, (sorry), if you look at your local council's website they usually have some form of Council Tax and HB/ LHA calculator where you can enter your details for a quick estimate of entitlement

karenx

If you get working tax credits this will stop unless you are working 16hours plus per week, and no childcare costs will get paid either.

masted75

yeah, we've informed HMRC and we weren't getting working tax credit before anyway (just the child tax credit element alone) so that won't change / stop. just trying to find about the council tax side of things really. the local council website calculator seems to suggest we qualify based on current income figures, but i don't know if there are other rules that would prevent qualification, due to it being a temporary situation/due to maternity etc. i'll give the council a call if i have to, but if anyone here knows first that would be great.