Child Benefit - Twins?

User36750

I was reading this thread but it doesn't quite answer my question.

We have child 1 who is nearly 3.
Claiming the full ~£80 a month or whatever it is (I don't personally see / deal with this as the other half does).

It's looking like we're having twins - child 2 and child 3.

Would both twins get the lower rate of child benefit?



Note to self:  Not eligible for Sure Start grant as we don't claim any benefits listed HERE.
 - yep, we're in that group that because we work and contribute, entitled to very little, despite barely able to afford to live.

Dazed_and_C0nfused

Why wouldn't they?

Spendless

Yes they both get the lower amount as they are child #2 and #3 in the family. The higher rate is paid for your eldest. 

Misslayed

A multiple birth makes you eligible for a one off Sure Start grant of £500, apply within 3 months of their birth. 

https://www.gov.uk/sure-start-maternity-grant/what-youll-get

We bought our Grand twins two cots, but they only slept in one for the first few months - one upstairs, one downstairs. 

poppy12345

Misslayed said:

A multiple birth makes you eligible for a one off Sure Start grant of £500, apply within 3 months of their birth. 

https://www.gov.uk/sure-start-maternity-grant/what-youll-get

We bought our Grand twins two cots, but they only slept in one for the first few months - one upstairs, one downstairs. 

OP doesn't qualify because you need to be claiming certain means tested benefits, which they don't. See the eligibility criteria in the link you provided. Expecting twins doesn't automatically qualify anyone.

Misslayed

poppy12345 said:

Misslayed said:

A multiple birth makes you eligible for a one off Sure Start grant of £500, apply within 3 months of their birth. 

https://www.gov.uk/sure-start-maternity-grant/what-youll-get

We bought our Grand twins two cots, but they only slept in one for the first few months - one upstairs, one downstairs. 

OP doesn't qualify because you need to be claiming certain means tested benefits, which they don't. See the eligibility criteria in the link you provided. Expecting twins doesn't automatically qualify anyone.

It must have changed since the twins were born three years ago. Both parents were working, no benefits claimed, just the multiple birth grant. 

TBagpuss

As others have said, you will get 2 los of child benefit, at the lower level as these will be your 2nd and 3rd childnre.

It may be worth you double checking if you will qualify for any benefits, particualrly if your income as a household will fall if you take maternity/paternity leave - statutory pay means you get the lower of 90% of you pay, or £156.66 per week for weeks 7-33 of your leave so unless you have a statutory right to hgher level of pay for longer, you may find that your cisumastances chang and potentially that you do find you re ntitled to some help at that point. You can use www.entitledto.co.uk to see whether you would qualify if/when your income falls and once you have 2 additional children in the household. If you did become entitled to some universal credit you might also qualify for the sure start maternity payment, but I am not sure what the specifc criteria are and whthr you have to have been claiming a relvant benefit at the time of the birth, or if you can still qualify if you become eligible within 6 months (which is the cut off point for claiming the grant) 

You could also look at specifc support groups / forums for paretns of twins for suggestions about practicalities and any specifc help you might be able to get, whether that's just advice from people who have been where you are now, there are also Twinsclubs https://www.twinsclub.co.uk/clubs/ in lots of areas so again, for practical support you may find it worth looking into whether there is one near you. 

Clouds88

Really sorry my previous comment about you having lots of money offended you enough to report it.

As this is an money saving forum, If your struggling to afford life as your last paragraph states you could look at holding off on the 15 K car purchase or using some of your savings to help yourself out in these tough times. Hugs xxxx

User36750

Clouds88 said:

Really sorry my previous comment about you having lots of money offended you enough to report it.

As this is an money saving forum, If your struggling to afford life as your last paragraph states you could look at holding off on the 15 K car purchase or using some of your savings to help yourself out in these tough times. Hugs xxxx

I didn't report anything hun...