Entitlements for a second child

brightonqueen

My partner & I have a 2 year old, & i am pregnant again.

He works full time, with an annual income of just less than £15K, I do not work.

I have started to look into what we will be entitled to once the new baby arrives, but got a bit confused (especially as a lot of websites seem not to be up to date).

We claim both Child Tax & Working Tax Credits, & are waiting for our Housing Benefit claim to be processed (i believe we are entiltled to £120 per week).

Just wondered if anyone knew if the tax credits would increase & if it will affect the rate of Housing Benefit we are entitled to?!

Also i believe the new government have scrapped the Health In Pregnancy Grant, but is the Sure Start Maternity Grant still available?

Thank you for any advice u can give me!

vodooelephant

Put your info in here..... it will gove you a basis to start from.

https://www.turn2us.entitledto.co.uk/entitlementcalculator.aspx

menollyke

Sure start maternity grant is still available, but from april it only counts for the first child. Second and subsequent pregnancy's don't qualify for the sure start maternity grant anymore. (unless you are 29 weeks before april when they make the changes)

karenx

It wont effect the amount of housing benefit you will be entitled to as your other child is only 2. So they are seen as can share a bedroom.
You will get £13 for the second child in child benefit and a little extra child tax credit. Thats all you will be entitled too

Tigsteroonie

I'd be surprised if you're entitled to £120/wk HB (though it depends where you are, obviously).

In Manchester, the maximum LHA (local housing award, replaces HB) for a 2bed house (like you, we're a couple with 1 child) is c. £126/wk.

I work, Marley doesn't; I earn £15,000. We get £7/wk LHA.

karenx

OP are you sure its £120 a week? Is that not just the LHA rate for your area? As thats the total maximum you will be entitled to if you were entitled to the full benefit, ie you arent working or on very low income. 15k isnt low so I would be surprised if you were even entitled to half of that LHA rate

zagfles

karenx wrote: »

It wont effect the amount of housing benefit you will be entitled to as your other child is only 2. So they are seen as can share a bedroom.
You will get £13 for the second child in child benefit and a little extra child tax credit. Thats all you will be entitled too

About £50 a week extra in child tax credit. The applicable amount for HB will go up but this will probably be offset by the additional CTC & CHB.

Indie_Kid

zagfles wrote: »

The applicable amount for HB will go up but this will probably be offset by the additional CTC & CHB.

It won't go up. 2 children are expected to share a room. CHB isn't counted as income in LHA / HB.

zagfles

sh1305 wrote: »

It won't go up. 2 children are expected to share a room. CHB isn't counted as income in LHA / HB.

The applicable amount is the base from which HB is tapered and will increase if the family size increases. This has nothing to do with how many rooms are needed. But like I said the increase in CTC (if not CHB) will serve to increase income which will probably offset this.

Macro_3

sh1305 wrote: »

It won't go up. 2 children are expected to share a room. CHB isn't counted as income in LHA / HB.

The applicable amount will go up.

brightonqueen

Thanks all for your info.

I live in Brighton, & last time i looked (a few months back so i guess not that acccurate now) the LHA for a 2 bed flat was just over £196/Wk. I have used the online calculator, & also spoken to a local council worker over the phone since i applied for HB, who put all my info into her computer & came out with £120/wk as well...so fingers crossed.

As for the other benefits, looks like yes the CTC & of course CB will go up when the new born is here.

And i will just miss the Sure Start Maternity Grant, as i will be 29 weeks in April, not before!!