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Original poster

Child benefit money

27 replies

Sparker99 · 27/10/2019 18:00

My daughter is about to turn 3 months old. Thanks to my midwife I didn’t know I qualify and so only just sent of my form etc to claim for her. I’m a young mum so the money coming in will be a big help with Christmas coming up, I’m expecting back pay for three months they said when I called up. Does anyone know how long it all takes to process and if anyone has had a fast quick experience with it all? Sorry if this is in the wrong place I’m new to this. Any info anyone has will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
IDontBelieveYou · 27/10/2019 18:01

Thanks to your midwife? It’s not her job to tell you.

CB is usually processed pretty quickly.

popcorndiva · 27/10/2019 18:03

Why did your midwife mention it? In my experience took a few weeks ..but they spelt his name wrong which I had to ring to correct

yourbeautiful · 27/10/2019 18:31

I'm pretty sure you can only claim and backdate for one month

Babyroobs · 27/10/2019 18:55

Why should a midwife not mention it ? It's surely to any new mum's advantage to claim what she is entitled to. In the hospital where I work Cancer Nurse specialists signpost people for benefits advice all the time as it's acknowledged that if people are in the best financial situation then this may affect health outcomes and reduce anxiety. I can't see there's any difference with new mums. It's all part of holistic care.

Babyroobs · 27/10/2019 18:56

Sorry and to answer your actual question, it usually takes a few weeks to sort out and I think it can be backdated 3 months if I remember correctly.

LIZS · 27/10/2019 18:59

It used to be mentioned at the birth registration.

ArnoldBee · 27/10/2019 19:01

Usually about 6 weeks to sort especially as you are wanting back dating as well.

Waiting1987 · 27/10/2019 19:03

I got the form in my Bounty pack at the hospital. It's a bit out of order to blame the midwife.

Gin96 · 27/10/2019 19:05

I’ve just had a back dated payment back to April this year, it says on the website they will back date payments to 2016.

turnthebiglightoff · 27/10/2019 19:06

It took about 3 weeks and they can backdate for 3 months.

I guess the OP is saying her midwife told her she is eligible. Let's not all pile on!!

Congrats on your little one OP :-)

CaptainTurdseye · 27/10/2019 19:17

It’s not your midwifes responsibility to tell you- they’re there for pre and antenatal
Care. Claims can be backdated up to 3 Months and the target time is 22 days

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 27/10/2019 19:19

There was a form in our bounty pack about child benefit - though how anyone could not Have heard of child benefit is beyond me

MummytoCSJH · 27/10/2019 19:28

OP didn't say she didn't know it existed she says her midwife advised she was/wasn't eligible and she didn't claim previously/has now claimed due to that. It may well be midwifes fault if she specifically told OP she wasn't eligible, new mums are busy enough, if they've been told something by someone they trust why wouldn't they accept it? The good thing is it's sorted now. They do backdate and they're usually quick at sorting it out!

Original poster
Sparker99 · 27/10/2019 20:29

Thank you. The midwife was supposed to give me the form with a bounty pack. She didn’t and when I asked if I’d receive she said I wasn’t eligible. Even though I am and my health visitor told me. I didn’t have much time to prepare as I didn’t find out till 32 weeks pregnant

OP posts:
Original poster
Sparker99 · 27/10/2019 20:31

I’ve heard of it. Didn’t get the form or bounty pack and mw said I wasn’t eligible

OP posts:
BarbaraofSeville · 28/10/2019 09:49

I don't know what's more bizarre, a midwife telling someone they aren't eligible for a near universal benefit, presumably without sufficient knowledge of the OPs finances and home set up or the OP taking the midwife's word for it without doing her own research.

At least it's only 3 months late, so you won't lose out on more than a couple of months. I've seen people on here lose out on years worth of payments because they apparently didn't know about CB.

Lynniepcarr · 28/10/2019 10:44

I have just received back dated child support it took about 2 weeks quite quick as they say can take up to 6 weeks x .

BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou · 28/10/2019 19:17

A lot of hospitals no longer give out the Bounty Pack. I was reminded to register for CB when I registered the births of my DC.

Even if you are ineligible to actually RECEIVE the money you should always register to get your NI status protected until you return to work.

m0therofdragons · 28/10/2019 19:29

Most hospitals don't do bounty packs as it's just a pack of advertising. All benefits are your responsibility (but completely understandable you didn't know). Did your midwife really say you're not entitled to child benefit? That's really not their area and if he surprised if she thought you earned well over the £50k per year cut off.

Check in case your entitled to anything else too.

MyDcAreMarvel · 28/10/2019 19:46

How can you never heard of CB have you lived your life under a rock? It is in no way the midwifes responsibility.

coffeeforone · 29/10/2019 18:01

I filled the forms in quite late with DS1 and they would only backdate so far (about 4 weeks IIRC). I stopped claiming shortly after that as I thought I might be liable for a tax charge if I continued.

coffeeforone · 29/10/2019 18:03

But my HV did mention it at both DS1 and DS2 initial appointment at 2 weeks old (not sure if it is their job to or not but it does seem to be on some kind of checklist they have).

Skyejuly · 29/10/2019 18:04

Prob be done in just over a week.

Lovemenorca · 29/10/2019 18:06

Op

You’re very early on in your parenting. Try to avoid this setting the tone of how you go about things - expecting others to guide you.
It would have taken you a 2 minute google to realise you were eligible and apply.

gamerchick · 29/10/2019 18:06

I've never had a bounty pack from a midwife and it isn't the midwife's job to tell you to claim anything.

It doesnt take long to process.

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