Feeling Helpless!

LCUK1978

I am wandering if anybody could please point me in the right direction....

A very good friend of mine will be entering the world of motherhood October. First baby, unfortunately single mother, mortgage, usual bills we all have, Earning approx £20K p/a

She has spoke to someone at CAB who told her she is only entitled to Child Benefit, which I know to be wrong as I am part of a couple and we was able to claim WTC.

So - she has been refused a Mortgage Break (is it worth appealing?) Payments have always been on time and paid in full.

When applying for Tax Credits (can she do that before baby)- does she have to state last year (10/11) tax year or will it be based on 11/12? The reason I ask is obviously she will be earning half her salary?

With that in mind (if the above is right) will she be able to claim for the Maternity Grant?

Its all such a big bladdy hoopla - I haven't got a clue.

I would be very gratefull if anybody in the same/similar situation can point me in the right direction. I hate to think she is under enormous pressure this close in her pregnancy

Any help will be a bonus!!!

Thanks xx

kingfisherblue

Her earnings will be too high for WTC - the cut off point is around £17-18k.

She can apply for CTC after the baby is born and can ask that this year's earnings are used.

I thought the maternity grant was only for new parents who receive certain benefits such as IS or JSA, but I could be wrong.

I've no idea about the mortgage break.

LCUK1978

I thought perhaps her earnings would be to high - thanks so much for your reply!!!

Will they take 11/12 tax year for this new claim when bubs arrives???

Thanks again ) xx

LL30

I made them go on an estimate for the current year - you minus the £100 for each week you are on SMP to work out your income for tax credits. I was on £25K but was on bed rest from 22 weeks so lost some pay there, started mat leave at 29 weeks and had her at 32. So although it was unlucky, it worked out fairly well financially and I got the maternity grant too (after some messing about!) Good luck to your friend - I should have been due in Oct last year! x

LCUK1978

oh wow - hope you don't mind me asking but how heavy was she? My first DD was 3 weeks prem amd was 5lb 12oz, tiny tiny! )

I was thinking about the Maternity Grant for her because he earnings for the current tax year will drop right down to £10K, and if she can get the TCs then surely she will be able to claim that after bubs is here?? How did you do it? lol sorry!

I have been no luck in helping really because mine have been joint claims, dont really know how the sort things for single moms!

Thanks ever so!! xx

LL30

4lb 4oz dropped to 3lb 6oz at her poorliest and finally came home at 3lb 15oz - a wee dot bless her!

You can download the sure start form and fill it in now - her midwife needs to complete a section. Have it all ready in the envelope with a stamp for her (coz she sure as hell won't be wanting to faff with all that and a new born!) Sit down with her now, and work out her yearly income as precisely as possible, do not underestimate, better over than under but it's a fine line (and not forgetting the £100 per week rule - I was on mat leave for 36 weeks last tax year, so it took £3600 off my annual income for tax credits purposes) Then get her to ring tax credits now and get her claim started - she should get WTC on £10K and this will make it easier when baby arrives. As soon as she possibly can after the birth, she needs to get baby's birth registered - then she can get child benefit. The child benefit form is in the Bounty pack she should get at hospital. Once child benefit is sorted, she can register her claim for child tax credits (they await confirmation from child benefit). Once she has her child tax credit sorted, get that application in the post asap! You only have 3 months from the day baby is born to claim - a tough call I feel when you have a new born (I found it nearly unmanageable and nearly missed out by a day!). Is that clear or a load of garble? It really is a faff! Hope you're ready to be an extra special friend and help her, she'll need it