question about surestart grant and ctc

jellyhead

i was chatting to a girl who had her baby same day as mine, she says she's not entitled to the surestart grant according to the notes - they say you have to be getting more than the family element, then say that is more than 548 a year, or more than 1096 if you have a baby under one. her baby was born in july. she does get more than 1096, but wouldn't she get 1096 if her baby was born on the first day of the tax year, and less than that if the baby element was spread over two tax years? her award is nearly 1096. she didn't know exactly her husband's salary, but i think she should apply for the grant anyway, what do you think? i don't know much about it as i won't get the grant myself, but from my understanding of tax credits based on my own award it looks like the baby element is split over 2 tax years - i get some this year and it carries on until july next year when baby is one, so only an april baby would generate a 1096 tax credit award for just the family element?

the surestart form just asks are you getting more than the family element, with yes/no options so no help there. entitledto doesn't mention how much of the award is family element, nor does the ir site. the award notice i have doesn't mention family element so how do people know?

Spendless

My understanding is that you get the baby element until the child is 1 regardless of when baby is born, but as you say if baby is born at different time to beg of tax year the awards willl show an extra amount in 2 tax years.

If you can't have the surestart grant unless you receive more than the family element, this will be why they're also including baby element, so someone who is usually on the £545pa won't get it just because they're also in the year when they get the extra money. Interesting cos I always wondered about this 'more than the family element' when it came to having a claim for another child and you're still getting extra for child under 1.

EDIT-sorry just re-read your post,wasn't concentrating (kids nattering!). When does her claim run to? What's the date on the form? If it says to April next year then yes I'd say she'd get it as she must have more than the family element and baby element. If it says till July then I'd say she'd not qualify.But perhaps someone with more knowledge could clarify.

jellyhead

i don't know ... i shouldn't have posted without knowing more detail i suppose lol! my own claim runs to april and she's getting a bit more than me (i only get the family element) so based on that i'd guess that she's earning a little bit less than the cutoff point (i have 2 children, she has just the one baby) but she'd be embarassed about trying to claim, plus there's no option on the surestart form for asking them to work out if you're entitled or not, you just say yes or no once you've worked it out for yourself! she doesn't want to say yes in case she's wrong and lying is illegal. why does nowhere tell us how much of the award is family element, how much is baby element and how much is additional child tax credit? it would make things so much easier lol! i don't know her well enough to ask about her income etc. really, i just chat if i see her at the shop. i just wondered how many other people are confused by this procedure, because if nowhere on the tax credits awards tells you if you get more than the family element and you're left to work it out for yourself then anyone with their first child getting family element and baby element will read the surestart notes and if their baby wasn't born in april they could well be getting more than those elements during this tax year, but because the surestart form gives a figure of 1096 for the year they think they aren't entitled to the surestart grant.

Spendless

jellyhead wrote:

i don't know ... i shouldn't have posted without knowing more detail i suppose lol! my own claim runs to april and she's getting a bit more than me (i only get the family element) so based on that i'd guess that she's earning a little bit less than the cutoff point (i have 2 children, she has just the one baby) but she'd be embarassed about trying to claim, plus there's no option on the surestart form for asking them to work out if you're entitled or not, you just say yes or no once you've worked it out for yourself! she doesn't want to say yes in case she's wrong and lying is illegal. why does nowhere tell us how much of the award is family element, how much is baby element and how much is additional child tax credit? it would make things so much easier lol! i don't know her well enough to ask about her income etc. really, i just chat if i see her at the shop. i just wondered how many other people are confused by this procedure, because if nowhere on the tax credits awards tells you if you get more than the family element and you're left to work it out for yourself then anyone with their first child getting family element and baby element will read the surestart notes and if their baby wasn't born in april they could well be getting more than those elements during this tax year, but because the surestart form gives a figure of 1096 for the year they think they aren't entitled to the surestart grant.

So what happens if you just put 'yes' you get more? Surely that's checked up on? She could look at the annual income on her entitlement form and by looking up the income table work out if she's just getting the family element? It seems a shame that someone may potentially miss out on money they're entitled to cos they're scared of making a claim.