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Children are an expensive business so it’s no wonder that many people struggle to make ends meet when bringing up a family. Here’s some information on benefits that you could be entitled to. Some are available to almost all parents, while others are means-tested and designed to support parents on low incomes. This is something that every parent is entitled to if they have a child under the age of 16 or under the age of 19 if still at secondary school. Parents should automatically receive an application form for child benefit in hospital after the birth of their child. If for any reason you don’t get a form, you can apply online at the Inland Revenue website. For every child you have, you’re entitled to claim this benefit, although the amount for the first child is higher than the amount for further children. You’ll receive payment every four weeks. However, if your income is low and you are on other government benefits, you can instead request to have weekly payments. The most convenient way for the majority of people is to have it automatically deposited into a current account, but it’s also possible to have it paid as a cheque that you can cash at the post office. For tax purposes, the payments are not classed as taxable income so they’re tax exempt and are not taken into consideration when calculating eligibility for other benefits. Another benefit to which many families are entitled is child tax credits. This is available to people with children under the age of 16 who have a household income under £66,000 if there is a child under the age of one in the house or £58,000 if all children are over the age of one. This benefit is means-based, i.e. it’s not a flat rate for all. It depends on your financial situation. It’s paid in two parts. The first part is for all families with children, and, like child benefit, there are further payments for each individual child. Further payments are available for those who have a disabled child. As this benefit is a tax credit, it’s administered by the Inland Revenue. Pick up an application form from your local Inland Revenue office or phone the tax credit helpline on 0845 300 3900. Child support Absent parents are obliged to pay towards the upbringing of their child. Sometimes informal financial arrangements are made between the resident and non-resident parents but in many circumstances parents go down the formal route of arranging maintenance though the government Child Support Agency, particularly if there has been a problem, a disagreement or a breakdown in communication. The Child Support Agency will determine how much the absent parent should pay you depending on their income, how many children they have who live with you and how many other children they have. You can opt to receive payments in one of two ways – either through the Child Support Agency or direct from the absent parent. The amount that you receive won’t be counted as income should you apply for any other benefits. All working women earning over £84 per week qualify to take paid maternity leave after the birth of a baby. The law changed in 2007 to enhance this benefit, so any mothers of children born after 30 April 2007 are entitled to 39 weeks of paid leave from their employer (an increase of 13 weeks over the previous entitlement). It’s also no longer necessary to have worked for the same employer for a certain qualifying period before the pregnancy, so it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been in your current job. The leave is paid at the rate of 90% of your normal salary/wages for the first six weeks, with the remaining 33 weeks paid at £108.85 per week (or 90% of your salary/wages if this is less). Your employer will continue to pay you through the payroll and you’ll still have national insurance contributions deducted. Some companies offer enhanced maternity benefits over and above the statutory requirements. Check out your employer’s policy to see what it is. Employment rights for fathers are slowly on the increase and the government offers basic provision for men who wish to take time off work after the birth of a child. You are entitled to statutory paternity pay if your partner is having a child, you are both adopting a child or you will be responsible for bringing up the child. You need to have been working with the same employer for 26 weeks by the 15th week before the due date or adoption date and be earning above a certain ‘lower earnings limit’, which is currently £85 per week. You can take either one or two weeks, paid at £108.85 per week (or 90% of your normal salary/wages if this is lower). It’s paid through your employer’s payroll and you’ll still pay tax and national insurance. Welfare food programme If you are in a low-paid job and/or your family income is low and you are claiming benefits, you can get assistance from the government to purchase food for your children. This includes fresh milk, formula milk, fresh vegetables and fruit and vitamin supplements. Pregnant women on low incomes are entitled to a weekly allowance of four litres of fresh milk, and if you have any children between the ages of one and five, each of them will also receive the same entitlement. The weekly entitlement to formula milk is 900 grams for children under one. Pop into your local gp surgery to find out how to apply for food and milk welfare. This article is copyright protected and is not for republishing |
