What am I entitled to??

Zideq

Me and my wife recently had our first child she is planning with the consent of her employer to take a year off work during this period she will be receiving statuary maternity leave payments.

I’m currently in full time employment and have been given the opportunity to buy childcare vouchers but before I do I was wondering what other benefits if any are we entitled to?

crazyguy

Take a look here : http://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx

BoroPhil

Child benefit definitely, apply as soon as you get the birth certificate.

Tax credits possibly, depends on your income.

Zideq

Thanks, what figures should I enter for the section Hours worked per week for my partner as she is on maternity leave?

crazyguy

O hours if she is not working !

kst101

I think when someone is on maternity leave that their hours worked is the hours they worked pre maternity leave, as long as they are in the ordinary part rather than the additional part. Hopefully someone else who knows more will see this, or it probably explains somewhere on the HMRC website.

Zideq

The Calculator has determined that you are not entitled to any benefit payments with your current circumstances. If your circumstances change, you must inform the body that awards you any benefits and let
them know. Otherwise, you may end up being overpaid.

Does that mean we are not entitled to child benefit??

wombles_forever

Hi, everyone is entitled to child benefit at the moment so yes you will be able to claim for it.

The rules are changing in April 2013, this means that after this date families which contain at least one higher rate tax payer will no longer be entitled to child benefit.

Zideq

I have just filled out the HMRC Tax credit entitlement tool and it suggest I we are eligible for child tax credits, is there a set threshold for the household income for these benefits?

pinky2681

best thing to do is just ring tax credits and ask, quick call and if you are entitled to any you can get the ball rolling. Child benefit is £20 per week i think (approx) - your wife should get smp for 9 months too. If your doing tax credits calculator online make sure you put down your wife's contract hrs and correct earnings. Also you can deducted £100 a week for every paid week she's on SMP (sorry not explained very well) - ask tax credits

Zideq

I will be phoning HMRC lunch time to get everything settled, I'm assuming they should have access to our financial records etc?