Also confused about sure start grant.....

[Terrilea]

Me and my partner both work full time, i am not entitled to SMP as i will have only been with my company for 6months by the time baby is born so i will be claiming maternity allowance.
From reading a few posts on here and speaking to people i know i'm wondering if i'd be entitled to the £500 sure start grant after baby is born and i was on my maternity allowance?? Or am i not entitled to it at all?

I haven't got a clue and wondered if anyone could help me with this???
Thanks ladies xxxxxxxx

 

[lili24]

You will be able to claim the grant if you are eligible for a higher rate of child tax credits (a rate higher than the basic family element) once the baby is born.

Put your details into this and it will tell you if you are eligible for CTC:

https://taxcredits.hmrc.gov.uk/Qualify/DIQHousehold.aspx

xx

 

[lili24]

You will need to put the details in as if you have a baby now by the way. Put it in as if she was born yesterday and it will give you an idea xx

 

[MrsRH]

you have to be on a very low joint income to get this grant but it's worth a try!
xxx


Who is eligible?
You can get a Sure Start Maternity Grant if you or your partner receive any of the following:

Income Support
income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Pension Credit
Child Tax Credit at a rate higher than the family element
Working Tax Credit where a disability or severe disability element is included in the award
and if one of the following applies to you:

you or your partner are pregnant and expecting a baby within 11 weeks or have given birth within the last three months
you or your partner have adopted a child, or in certain circumstances have been granted a residence order for a child, within the last three months and the child is less than one year old
you and your husband or wife have been granted a parental order for a surrogate birth within the last three months
you or your partner are getting benefit for a dependant under the age of 20 who is pregnant and expecting a baby within 11 weeks or has given birth within the last three months

 

[Terrilea]

you have to be on a very low joint income to get this grant but it's worth a try!
xxx


Who is eligible?
You can get a Sure Start Maternity Grant if you or your partner receive any of the following:

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


and if one of the following applies to you:

you or your partner are pregnant and expecting a baby within 11 weeks or have given birth within the last three months
you or your partner have adopted a child, or in certain circumstances have been granted a residence order for a child, within the last three months and the child is less than one year old
you and your husband or wife have been granted a parental order for a surrogate birth within the last three months
you or your partner are getting benefit for a dependant under the age of 20 who is pregnant and expecting a baby within 11 weeks or has given birth within the last three months

My partner earns 18k so i wonder if that's low enough, i've tries to do the online calculator as my lili24 suggested but my PC wont let me as i'm on the work pc there are restrictions i will have to try when i get home. thanks x

 

[jess_smurf]

it wont be i dont think you have to earn under £15k i think and your MA will count towards it

 

[bexxie]

But the MA you deduct the first £100 a week off for tax credits so there fore only £23 will count towards the amount so unlikely to have any affect.
x

 

[lizzieandzara]

i have just entered me and my partners details into that calculator and it says we are entitled to around £243... is that every month or what? i wouldnt of thought we would get that much as my boyfriend earns 19k and i work part time and i am also at uni. does anyone know what i am entitled to? im so confused about it all!

 

[_Vicky_]

you will qualify - what you need to do is tell them when you are allocated your CTC that you want it recalculated on a this year basis then you will have a combined income of 23k which will be your MA and OH 18k. Then once you are on the higher rate of CTC (which only needs to be more than 500 a year so quite low) you will qualify. The trick with ssmg is that you need to apply before bubs is 3 months old and so the CTC has to be applied first then the next one all within 12 weeks of giving birth EEKKKK.

What I have done is get the forms - I am filling in what I can this weekend and then when babies arrive just date them put in dob and posting them.

ps you can call the CTC number and check your individual circumstances as they will ask for all our figures and let you know - then ask them if this level would qualify you for the SSMG and they will let you know.

I am sooo hoping I am right about our circumstances as ssmg is the ONLY benefit you get per baby rather than per pregnancy so VERY mutiple friendly xxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[_Vicky_]

Child Tax Credit at a rate higher than the family element

this is the factor which means the majority of people will qaulify once baby is born - forget WTC as if your oh earns more than 17k you wont get it on that basis.

 

[auzelia]

But the MA you deduct the first £100 a week off for tax credits so there fore only £23 will count towards the amount so unlikely to have any affect.
x

You dont deduct anything from MA as its not paid via your wages and as such it doesnt show up in your P60 details.

You only deduct £100 per week that you are on maternity leave during that specific tax year (incase your off during two tax years) if you get paid SMP via your employer.

 

[bexxie]

I got confused then but I know you deduct it from the Maternity you get SMP from your employer
x

 

[bumps_a_daisy]

Thanks ladies, this is coming in VERY useful.
xxxx

 

[bumps_a_daisy]

Ps what does partner classify as........meaning because im not married or living with him does that count me as single????

Very confused.com
xxx

 

[auzelia]

its a grey area if your not living with him.

Do you not live with him due to him working away?

Does he contribute to your household?

 

[starbucks101]

basically from what ive gathered.... once baby is born you need to get more than £1100 a year in CTC if you dont you wont be eligable I think..... best bet is to ring jobcentre and ask