Please help, benefit entitlements???

Mamamimi

Please help me out here...
Im finding working out if and what im entitled to super stressful
I have a daughter of 3 years,
and now im expecting baby no.2 in Feb.

Moneys really tight and I'm getting anxious, as partner may lose his job come march.

I dont work.
My partner works fulltime 35 hours a week.
He earns an annual income of £24,434
£3,615 of this goes into childcare.
We recieve child benefit for our 3 year old daughter.
And child tax credits of £10:45 a week.

I want to know if were entitled to more benefits or grants? Is there anything I'm able to claim?

Tried calling the hm revenue but there of no help.
I know that I can claim the health in pregnancy grant because little one is due before Jan.
But can I claim the sure start maternity grant too?
Or healthy start vouchers?
Thanks X

Jowo_2

You can double check your entitlements on the Turn2us online benefit calculator. You should also model your household entitlements based on a potential job loss next year, just to understand the impact.

How long has your husband been in employment as this will help the members determine if he is entitled to Income or Contribution based JSA which is one of the qualifying criteria for the last two benefits you mentioned?


Health in Pregnancy grant

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/HealthinPregnancyGrant/DG_173502

Sure start maternity grant
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/HealthinPregnancyGrant/DG_173502

Healthy Start Vouchers

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/HavingABaby/AfterTheBirth/DG_4002854

Download the budget planner on the Free tools section and work through the MSE site to identify where you can make savings on household expenses.

Caz3121

Does your three year old get any free nursery time. You will not qualify for any help with the childcare as you do not work. Could you reduce the childcare?

MrsManda

Why do you pay for childcare if you are not working?
The different grants/benefits you can claim if you are pregnant can be found at direct.gov.uk:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/index.htm

As already suggested fill out the benefits calculator on turn2us:
http://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx

and also the Benefits Advisor on direct.gov.uk:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/DoItOnlineByCategory/DG_172666

to get an idea what you may be entitled to claim

themull1

What is the childcare for if you don't work? or have i missed something cos i'm a but dumb this time of night!!

themull1

I meant 'bit' !!

Mamamimi

First time using this site so hopfully im replying were i should do
Ive tried the calculator benefits advisor and its showing this,

You may be able to claim the following benefit(s), which we have estimated for you :exclamati

Child Tax Credit £54.67 per week
Working Tax Credits £88.34 per week

Either ive done something wrong or were not receiving what we should be as of now we get £20.30 child benefit and child tax credit of £10:45 per week :shocked: ?

Jowo thanks for all the info
my partner has worked for the same employer for 3 years now contract due to end in march.
will def try out the budget planner.

Caz3121 she's in a private nursery.
Half Days, 5 days a week.
This is the min as they must attend 5 days so unable to reduce.
I wouldn't want to change her now we like the school and she enjoys her nursery time there.


MrsManda
Thanks for that will check out the links.
Daughter is in private nursery.

themull1
daughters 3 so attending nursery in the mournings ,private nursery.

Caz3121

Mamamimi wrote: »

First time using this site so hopfully im replying were i should do
Ive tried the calculator benefits advisor and its showing this,

You may be able to claim the following benefit(s), which we have estimated for you :exclamati

Child Tax Credit £54.67 per week
Working Tax Credits £88.34 per week

Either ive done something wrong or were not receiving what we should be as of now we get £20.30 child benefit and child tax credit of £10:45 per week :shocked: ?

What you are receiving sounds right - did you by chance complete the childcare costs as these are only counted if you both work? Cutoff for WTC with no childcare is about £18k for a couple
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/people-advise-others/entitlement-tables/work-and-child/work-no-childcosts.htm