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Benefits for Parents

Parents (or guardians) are entitled to a wide range of benefits. Click on the links below for the most up-to-date information and for the appropriate forms.

Child benefit - A benefit for people bringing up children, paid for each child and is NOT affected by income or savings.

Sure Start Maternity Grant - A one-off payment of £500 to help with the immediate needs of your new baby, available to those on a low income.

Maternity Allowance - For working mothers (including part-time and self-employed) who are not entitled to Statutory Maternity Pay from their employer. You should claim as soon as you can after you have been pregnant for 26 weeks. If you delay, you may lose benefit. Other conditions apply.  Also check the goverments guide to maternity leave.

Tax Credits Tax credits are payments from the government. If you're responsible for at least one child or young person who normally lives with you, you may qualify for Child Tax Credit. If you work, but earn low wages, you may qualify for Working Tax Credit.
Nine out of ten families with children get tax credits, but you don't need to have children to qualify. You may also qualify if you are working and earning low pay.

Child Support Maintenance - For Lone parents money paid by a 'non-resident' parent to help you with the cost of bringing up their child.

Guardians Allowance - For people bringing up a child whose parents have died.

Child Trust Fund voucher - The Child Trust Fund (CTF) is a long-term tax-free savings and investment account for all children born on or after 1 September 2002. The government will give every eligible child a voucher worth at least £250 to start the fund. To be eligibe the child must be born on or after 01/09/02, you must qualify for child benefit and you must live in the UK.
The government will send you a CTF voucher of £250 to start your child’s account.  If your child is part of a household getting Child Tax Credit, with a household income at or below £13,910 (in 2005/6), your child will get an extra £250 – so £500 in all.  In the budget on 22/03/2006 the goverment announced that on the childs 7th birthday the government make a further contribution of £250, with children in lower-income families receiving an additional £250.

Care to Learn? If you are under 19 and want to start or return to learning, care to learn may be able to pay for your childcare and travel costs. See also Money to Learn.

See also Healthy Start for vouchers for milk, fruit and vegetables.

Also take a look at Benefits and help for parents going back to work.

Early Years Education The government funds local authorities to ensure a free part-time early education place is available for every three and four year old in settings that have been inspected by Ofsted and found satisfactory in terms of quality in England.  From 1 April 2006 three and four year old children are entitled to free early years education, comprising 12.5 per week for 38 weeks of the year. Parents do not contribute towards this minimum entitlement but may be charged fees for any services or childcare that is additional to the free place.

You can use this website www.entitledto.co.uk to calculate what you are entitled to.

See also budget 2007

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Free NHS Dental Treatment and Prescriptions.

During your pregnancy and for 12 months after your baby is born all women are entitled to free dental treatment and prescriptions. You GP or midwife will give you an application form to get the exemption certificate from your Health Authority.

Free School meals/ help towards cost of school clothes click here.

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