Surestart Grant

[Shrimpy]

Hi,

Sorry I'm sneaking over from second tri but I was wondering if any of you would mind answering a question about the surestart grant. I know it says if you recieve more than the basic family element of child tax credits you could be entitled to it. Would anyone who ONLY received child tax credits (not working tax or income support etc) mind telling me how much they were getting in tax credits and were successful in getting the surestart grant please?

I'm pretty sure we get a fair bit more than the basic element but that is the only "benefit" we get so I'm not sure if we're entitled or not.

TIA

 

[lushious09]

i dont get any of this 2bh... i applied for it when i was on income support they pissed me about for over a month with it then put me on maternity allowance then turned round and said i couldnt have it!

 

[I<3paul]

Have you kept the stuff they send you saying what you receive? It should say on there how much you receive. It says on it what the basic element is as well. You can ring tax credits and ask them if you're not sure. It's something like £550 a year I think xx

 

[Shrimpy]

We get more than the £548 but the wording on the website is very ambiguous and says you MAY be entitled so I was wondering if maybe someone who got £700 wasn't elligible but someone getting £1000+ was? Or that you may need to be getting more than the basic element BUT another benefit too? It just seems like they pick and choose who gets what half the time

 

[I<3paul]

We don't get any benefits. We normally don't get more than the basic element but we are at the mo because last tax year I was on maternity leave and they discount £100 for every week you're on maternity so it worked out that we get more because my income is lower. If you get more than 548 you will get it. We just got it yesterday. Xx

 

[Shrimpy]

Thank you! We've never been entitled before because I always worked. I gave up work In February which is why we get a higher amount now. Oh this melarky is all so confusing!

 

[I<3paul]

If it's just your partner working I imagine you'll definitely get it unless he's earning loads but if luke you day you are gettin over the £548 you will get it but don't send it off before 29 weeks or they send it back n send it in the envelope they give you sayin wembley bdc if you download it, it says take it to your job centre but I would be more inclined to ring them and get the wembley bdc address because the job centre don't always know what to do with them xx

 

[Shrimpy]

thanks so much for your help ... I've just found my award letter and I'm a bit confuzzled. I'm not one for banding my financial affairs around but I'm not sure if these figures mean I'm getting more than the basic or not so I'll just throw it out there:

CHILD ELEMENTS FOR CHILDREN
2 qualifying children £4606.30

FAMILY ELEMENTS
Basic £ 547.50
Total child Tax Credit Elements £5153.80
Reduction due to income £3331.75
Amount for period £1822.05


Amount to be paid £1822.05


So does this mean I am only getting the basic? Sorry if I'm seeming like a right thicko!!

 

[Shrimpy]

bump, anyone?

 

[bubbles]

I can't remember the amounts the form said but we get just over £50p/w CTC and we got the grant

 

[Phinners]

Oh hello, can you get this if you're working?

 

[bubbles]

Oh hello, can you get this if you're working?

If you are in receipt of CTC above the basic rate (I think basic rate is about £10.50 per week) then you qualify. If this is your first baby you would need to apply for your CTC once LO is here and then put the claim in for the grant. You will have upto 3months after LO is born to claim

 

[xemmax]

i just don't get it. i called about tax credits a couple of days ago and am waiting for my application pack to arrive. they said that we should receive £44 in child tax credit and £21 for family element per week. how do i know whether this is above the basic? very confusing.. might give someone a call, or might just apply anyway once baby is here - might aswell! x

 

[I<3paul]

Yeah you will be entitled. It's saying you receive the basic rate but you also receive more on top of that, so definitely apply.

Xx

 

[xemmax]

thank you! never expected that. i've never received anything before and have always been employed so never looked into it - it will come in very handy though x

 

[I<3paul]

i just don't get it. i called about tax credits a couple of days ago and am waiting for my application pack to arrive. they said that we should receive £44 in child tax credit and £21 for family element per week. how do i know whether this is above the basic? very confusing.. might give someone a call, or might just apply anyway once baby is here - might aswell! x

£44 a week is more than the basic. So definitely apply once you are in receipt of tax credits. You need to apply for child benefit first though as tax credits need your child benefit reference number to process your claim. You get given a new mother bounty pack in hospital and that's got the form in for child benefit xx

 

[Shrimpy]

so then that should mean I should be able to get it too as that annual lump equates to £35.04/week. I'm guessing it doesn't matter how many children you have, the basic is just the basic? Our government sure know how to confuse people!



ETA: I Paul, wasn't sure if you were replying to me or the other poster when you said yeah to apply for it so apologies if I keep making you repeat yourself x

 

[xemmax]

ahh brilliant, thanks so much! hopefully they won't mess around and i can get it all within the 3 months after birth then! xx

ETA - oops sorry if i was wrong when i thought the first reply was for me. baby brain!

 

[I<3paul]

so then that should mean I should be able to get it too as that annual lump equates to £35.04/week. I'm guessing it doesn't matter how many children you have, the basic is just the basic? Our government sure know how to confuse people!



ETA: I Paul, wasn't sure if you were replying to me or the other poster when you said yeah to apply for it so apologies if I keep making you repeat yourself x

Ha I was replying to you, it wouldn't let me quote you for some reason. You should get it. The basic rate might go up for 2 children I'm not sure, il just look it up but if it stays the same you will get your grant. I'm just gonna look up the 2 children thing though... Hold please xx

 

[Pearls18]

To anyone unsure I'd just say fill out the form and give it a shot! I am on maternity pay, even though my job has come to an end coz I get SMP until April I am classed as employed. This is my first baby so as I don't have any kind of benefit or tax credit yet I can't apply, but when he's born and I apply for tax credits I will get higher than the family element so I will apply for the sure start grant AFTER my tax credit certificate comes thru (you have up until 3 months after the birth) not 100% I'll get it yet- but hopeful.

To the OP I would say with the tax credits you wrote you should be eligible but I'm not certain, no harm applying- they can only say no! (it's an easy form too) x