The Child Benefit Building Blocks

THE CHILD BENEFIT BUILDING BLOCKS Families with young children need to take advantage of all the help they can get. Many may not be aware of the wide range of benefits out there to help them. Read on to find out about the support available to you. You could be entitled to: Requirements Benefit Mums on maternity leave with at least 26 weeks continuous employment and average pay of at least £111 a week 90% of your salary Statutory Maternity Pay for the first 6 weeks. For the remaining 33 weeks it's £138.18 per week (or 90% of your salary if that's less) 90% of your average weekly earnings up to £138.18 per week. Normally receive National Insurance credits during this period Maternity Allowance Mums not eligible for Statutory Maternity Pay (e.g. self-employed) One or two weeks paid leave at the rate of Ordinary Statutory Paternity Pay New dads or partners who work £138.18, or 90% of your average weekly earnings (whichever is lower) 4 Being on certain benefits or tax credits, and having your first baby Sure Start Maternity Grant A one-off tax-free payment of £500 Prescription and NHS Dental Care Being pregnant or having a child under 12 months Free prescriptions and free NHS Dental Care during your pregnancy and for a whole year after your baby is born 6. Healthy Start Food vouchers Vouchers for free milk, fresh fruit, vegetables, infant formula Pregnant women and families on benefits and vitamins Child Being responsible for a child under 16 (or under 20 if they £20.50 per week for the first child and £13.55 per week for additional children Benefit stay in education or training) Working Tax Credit* Some If you qualify depends on the number of hours you work and whether you are a single working adult or a couple economic support 9. Anyone with responsibility for a child who normally lives with them. How much you get will depend on your household income You can still get tax credits even if your income is higher if you have childcare costs or your child has Child Tax Credit* disabilities 10 Full-time higher education students with children Up to £150.23 per week for 1 child and up to £257.55 for 2 or Childcare Grant more children Will depend on the National Insurance contributions that your late husband, wife or civil partner paid. Maximum allowance is Being a widow responsible for children Widowed 11 Parents Allowance £111.20 per week 12 Anyone who is bringing up a child because one or both parents have Guardian's £16.35 a week per child, paid on top of any Child Benefits Allowance died and are entitled to claim Child Benefit *Between April 2013 and October 2017, Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit is being gradually phased out and replaced by Universal Credit. moneyadviceservice.org.uk the Money Advice Service