Sure start maternity grant...

[MrsEngland]

So i have question about the sure start maternity grant?

According to the government website if you are on child tax credit at a higher rate or if you will be once your baby is born you can claim the maternity grant. When Delilah is born we will receive child tax credits at the higher rate so presumably we can claim the grant?
But does anyone know if we have to wait until she is born and are receiving the tax credits or can we claim it before she is born because we will be entitled to the tax credits once she is born?

Hope that makes sense! Just if we have to claim after she is born i know we only have 11 weeks to do it!

 

[Shrimpy]

If you are not currently claiming tax credits, or qualify in another way then you have to wait until she's born. By higher rate they DON'T include the baby element. What they mean is higher than the £546 a year basic rate.

hth

xx

 

[Jem88]

I kno when my cousin had her daughter, she had to wait until after she was born so she could then get the child tax credit and then apply for the grant.

 

[MrsEngland]

Ah thanks girls, i think the form said that with the baby element of tax credits its over 1935 and ours will be more than that just! haha.

 

[MrsEngland]

Are they planning on stopping that grant from January like the health in pregnancy grant?

 

[DJ987]

No, it's only going to be for the first child!

Tax credits confuse me... Because in the tax year we will claim from which if it's the last one will be 09/10 if I claim in jan/feb yes? My income was a hell of a lot lower than it was this year as I only started my job Sept 09. So will they use this income or my full wage from now?!

 

[MrsEngland]

I think its done from the last tax year or something very confusing!

 

[kimberley_80]

We are on tax ctedits my partner has set up his own business so is on a really low wage nd gets workking tax. I dont work does anyone if im entitled? Thankyou x

 

[emma2810]

I thought it was based on the previous tax year
Is there not a helpine you could call?x

 

[ttcgeordie]

my mate got it she waited till baby was born claimed the higher rate tax then claimed the sure start grant and she got it?

 

[MrsEngland]

my mate got it she waited till baby was born claimed the higher rate tax then claimed the sure start grant and she got it?

Yeah i'm pretty sure thats how you have to do it now =)

 

[MrsEngland]

We are on tax ctedits my partner has set up his own business so is on a really low wage nd gets workking tax. I dont work does anyone if im entitled? Thankyou x

You have to be getting Child tax credits i don't think working tax credits qualifies you unless it includes a disability element. Heres what the application says.

Can you get a Sure Start Maternity Grant?
You may be able to get a Sure Start Maternity Grant if
● you or your partner are getting
– Income Support, or
– incomebased
Jobseeker’s Allowance, or
– incomerelated
Employment and Support
Allowance, or
– Pension Credit, or
– Working Tax Credit which includes a disability or
severe disability element, or
– Child Tax Credit at a rate higher than the family
element.
From April 2010 to April 2011 this means a rate of
£548 a year or more, or more than £1095 a year if
you have a baby under one. These figures are for a
whole year and will be less for partyears.
Your tax
credits award notice will include a breakdown of
your award. If your Child Tax Credit total is greater
than the amounts shown as the family elements
you may qualify for a Sure Start Maternity Grant.
Note that your tax credit award is based on your
previous year’s income. If your income reduces
you can ask for your tax credit award to be
reviewed.
SF100 04/10
and
● you need help with buying things for a
baby that
– has recently been born, or
– is expected to be born in the next
11 weeks, or
– you have recently adopted, or
– is the subject of a residence order, or
– is the subject of a parental order under
section 30 of the Human Fertilisation and
Embryology Act 1990

I thought it was based on the previous tax year
Is there not a helpine you could call?x

Yeah it is based on the previous tax year. So when i apply in january when baby is here it will be based on tax year 09/10.

 

[DJ987]

Thanks for that hun, from putting our last years income into the calculator thing I think I'll be entitled to it too as I didn't earn much due to finishing uni and not starting work until part way through the tax year! Every little helps so much with a little one! Xx

 

[MrsEngland]

Yeah definitely!

 

[angelic_one]

I'm so confused! What's the "family" element and what's the "child" element? Am I being really dense here? It doesn't make sense to me AT ALL!

 

[angelic_one]

Okay I did the calculator and this is what it said:
Based on the information you have entered, your household may be entitled to the following tax credits award:-
Child Tax Credit £1983.03
Childcare element of Working Tax Credit £0.00
Sub total £1983.03
Working Tax Credit (less the childcare element of Working Tax Credit) £962.94
Note: The childcare element of Working Tax Credit will always be paid direct to the person who is mainly responsible for caring for the child or children, alongside payments of Child Tax Credit.
Total £2945.97

Does that make me eligible for Surestart? It doesn't say anything about Family? :S

 

[Shrimpy]

angelic_one: Looks like you could be entitled as you're getting over £1095 (basic family element + baby under 1 element) so looks like you're getting more than just the basic family rate. I would apply, all they can do is say no

 

[angelic_one]

Thankyooou!
Why can't they just say that somewhere?? They have to make it sooo difficult!
The other thing is, my other half already claims working tax credits, but I want to claim the child tax credits in my name (don't trust him with money AT ALL) will I be alright to do that? :S I don't want to take the working tax credits from him, I feel like they're rightfully his, but I'd go crazy if he was being paid the baby's money... :/

 

[MrsEngland]

Thankyooou!
Why can't they just say that somewhere?? They have to make it sooo difficult!
The other thing is, my other half already claims working tax credits, but I want to claim the child tax credits in my name (don't trust him with money AT ALL) will I be alright to do that? :S I don't want to take the working tax credits from him, I feel like they're rightfully his, but I'd go crazy if he was being paid the baby's money... :/

Child tax is always paid to the main carer of the child so i'm assuming that would be you? But i'm not sure if you have to have to have them paid to the same place?

 

[louisechippy]

as far as im aware you can have them paid to two differant accounts as in thier eyes they are paying to two differant ppl x but would be worth while giving them a ring to find out thought hunx