Child Benefit and Child Tax Credits

LadyMorticia

Hello.:o

I hope it's okay to put this here, The benefits board scares me a bit.:o

I'm having my husband and I's first baby on Monday via elective C-Section due to pre-existing health problems.

We are currently on Income Support due to my disabilities (I haven't been transferred to ESA yet) and my husband is my full-time carer.

I'm a little confused about Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit. I assume that we apply for Child Benefit once baby is registered and we have the birth certificate (so they know that baby is a real person) and that when Child Benefit is in place, we then apply for Child Tax Credits? Is that correct?

This is our first child so it's all a bit new to us.:o

Also, is it true that you get the Child Benefit form in the Bounty pack that you get once you've given birth?

Thank you.

skateykatey

Very quick reply but...do not wait until your Child Benefit has been awarded. Child Tax Credit can now only be backdated for one month so do not delay or else you will loose entitlement.
Ideally you should ring the tax credits helpline now and request a claim form and then as soon as the baby is born, get it filled in and sent off.

There may be a small delay in awarding the claim whilst they verify the child's existence but at least your claim will be in the system and will be backdated to the date of birth.

stiltwalker

Agree ^^^^

Unless it's changed from 18 months ago then yes you should get a form with the bounty pack - I had to chase my pack though as DS went up to SCBU for 24 hours so I was up there when the woman came round with them so if you happen to be away from your bed for any reason make sure you ask for it before they release you.

Good luck and I hope it goes well - make sure you let us know that all went well and what flavour you get. x

Natterjack88

Yep thats the order I did it in. Rather than waiting for the form in the bounty pack though I just phoned HMRC and got one sent out so I could have it filled in before my baby was born.

ikkle87

They wouldn't send us a tax credits claim form till after he was born. We sent the child benefit form off the day we registered Jakey then got the form through for tax credits a week later and sent that off straight away, you don't need to wait for the child benefit to be set up x