Things you're entitled to when you have a baby

[Rupiduti]

I'm thinking more and more about starting a family soon and I thought it would be helpful for people to say what financial things you are entitled to when you become a parent. Things that people may not have thought of!

(Money/ freebies!) We are in a cost of living crisis and I thought it might be helpful as not everybody will have thought of everything.

Lol. Nothing that isn’t eaten up by the cost.

20% tax off childcare, and free hours when they turn three, which still leaves our bill for four days a week up near a grand 🫣

£80-ish child benefit pm which you have to pay back in complicated shenanigans if one of you earns over £50k.

None of this will touch your weekly outlay on blueberries and raspberries. You will stop buying grapes for a while because slicing them to non-lethal dimensions becomes wearying.

Free prescriptions whilst pregnant and 12 months after your baby's due date.

Child benefit.

I believe there is free childcare coming for everyone next year too.

Free nhs dental care during pregnancy and 12 months afterwards.

If you want to check if you’re entitled to universal credit then the entitled to website is really useful.

Depending on how much your partner earns and if your maternity pay is enhanced you might qualify for universal credit whilst on maternity leave even if you don’t usually. Only if you have less than £16,000 in savings.

Statutory maternity pay is around £720 a month, when you go on leave you get 90% of your full pay for 6 weeks. After 9 months of being on leave there is no maternity pay after that point unless your employer enhances it or you do something clever with your annual leave.

You might get some free vitamins too 😂

I wouldn’t hold your breath on the free childcare for everyone. I’ll believe that when I see it.

If you have a children’s centre nearby absolutely utilise it. I did two baby courses, Sing and Sign and Baby Massage for £10 each for 5 sessions. It was a bit naff truth be told but it was a nice thing to do in the early days.

Free NHS dental care while pregnant and for a year postpartum. If you can find a dentist.

Free baby groups at local authority family centres, museums, libraries etc.

Free baby clothes sometimes on local parent Facebook groups, and sometimes other stuff. If you’re not fussy and can drive to collect you could get quite a lot of useful things.

If you're not entitled to SMP, you are often entitled to maternity allowance.

You can still get a sure start maternity grant if it's your first baby (means tested).

The additional childcare places will never happen - why would nurseries offer places at a loss?

Oh yes that reminds me! We have a child and family centre and they do a clothes swap. Although everytime I've been they have been too full to accept donations so I just keep picking up free clothes! I've found some really nice things - a splash about swim nappy, a Next snowsuit that looks as good as new.

I don't know anything about the free places really @Skinnermarink @Parker231 just what I heard.

I think a lot of people have read the same and just assume it’ll happen. Low blows to secure votes from parents that otherwise may not have voted that way.

Our church playgroup do a swap shop. I’ve had loads from there.

None of this will touch your weekly outlay on blueberries and raspberries. You will stop buying grapes for a while because slicing them to non-lethal dimensions becomes wearying.

It's the same in our house, lots of strawberries and raspberries but no more grapes because of all the chopping needed for 2 DC!

If you have DC after your friends and siblings though you may get lots of free stuff as they just want to get rid of the clutter!

In Scotland your midwife will give you a form to fill in and send of for a free baby box.

They are fantastic and have all
the essentials you’ll need for a newborn, even a voucher for reusable nappies.

The box comes with a mattress and doubles up as a cot.

Im not sure if they are available in England though.

Thanks all, this is helpful!