can i claim anything? new baby on the way

chrisindebt

hi, we are expecting a new baby on the 14th aug and i would like to know if we can claim any benifits as both of us have never claimed for anything before, our circumstances are as follows

my wife was self employed running her own business until 18th sept 2007 when she was made bankrupt from the business failing, she has not worked since but is upto date with her national insurance.

i am also self employed as a sub contractor and take home £480 a week after deductions

we have two other children which we get child benifit of £37 ish a week.

any help would be great, thanks!

Conor_3

Working tax and child tax credits. I don't know if the DSS still do a maternity grant anymore.

angeluk69_2

Have you not already started a thread asking this?

bestpud

Conor wrote: »

Working tax and child tax credits. I don't know if the DSS still do a maternity grant anymore.

On £480 a week, after deductions?

You are entitled to ctc now so get a claim in for that. It will go up once the baby is born, as will your cb.

Your income is too high for any other benefits.

chrisindebt

yes but on a differant board,where i was directed to this one to get the right info from the right experts!

stazi

Your wife should be able to claim Maternity Allowance for 39 weeks from 11 weeks before the expected week. She should contact JCP now on 0800 055 6688 and ask for form MA1. She also needs form MatB1 from her midwife to send with the MA1 claim form to JCP. The max MA rate is £117.18pw.

jai_2

When the baby is born you will get the child tax credit 'higher family element' this will entitle you to make a claim for the surestart maternity grant...one off £500...You must claim it within 3 months of the birth

bestpud

jai wrote: »

When the baby is born you will get the child tax credit 'higher family element' this will entitle you to make a claim for the surestart maternity grant...one off £500...You must claim it within 3 months of the birth

I don't think that is likely tbh.

The OP is on £480 a WEEK, TAKE HOME - that's a net income of nearly £25,000!

A gross income of £25,000 would more than likely make them only entitled to the basic element.

OP - you are entitled to ctc now, so do claim asap, but you are very unlikely to get wtc or the maternity grant on that income.

jai_2

http://www.surestart.gov.uk/surestartservices/support/helpwithchildcarecosts/maternitygrant/

bestpud

jai wrote: »

http://www.surestart.gov.uk/surestartservices/support/helpwithchildcarecosts/maternitygrant/

Taken from the site you've linked to:

Who can get the grant?

You can get a Sure Start Maternity Grant if you or your partner are getting:

• Income Support
• Income based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit at a higher rate than family element or
• Working Tax Credit where a disability or severe disability element is included in the award

As I have said, I think it is highly unlikely the OP will get more than the basic element of ctc as their income is £25,000 NET, not gross. The cut off for the basic element is less than that GROSS, I am pretty sure.

They will not get wtc on that income and have not mentioned any disabilities!

Which bit are you thinking they may qualify under?

becky004

bestpud wrote: »

Taken from the site you've linked to:

Who can get the grant?

You can get a Sure Start Maternity Grant if you or your partner are getting:

• Income Support
• Income based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit at a higher rate than family element or
• Working Tax Credit where a disability or severe disability element is included in the award

As I have said, I think it is highly unlikely the OP will get more than the basic element of ctc as their income is £25,000 NET, not gross. The cut off for the basic element is less than that GROSS, I am pretty sure.

They will not get wtc on that income and have not mentioned any disabilities!

Which bit are you thinking they may qualify under?

A gross income of £35000, would entitle them to 547.50 a year CTC for the 2 children they currently have, which would then entitle them to the £500 Sure Start Maternity Grant.