Help with benefits...

[Carolann8584]

Hi All

Trying to get an idea of what/if I can claim once I have my LO in March

Currently work full time as does my OH, we don't claim anything at the moment. He has 2 DC from a previous relationship, he give her money every week with out fail to support them.

I am trying to find out if we can claim anything once our LO is born, SMP will be considerably less than what I earn now and we have started saving for the drop in our joint income. Will I/we be able to claim anything on top of SMP. I have tried the Gov website and the calculator only works off our current earnings which doesn't help as it works on current or historical earnings.

Just want to know what our options are. One less thing to worry about

I'm having my baby in April & have had a look online and apparently I can claim Child Benefit & Child tax credits alongside SMP.

Thanks for your reply, when would you put the claim in?

Various sites say you have to wait until the baby is born before putting a claim in.

Ok thanks. Just think I'm impatient, want to get as much out of the way as possible

You should receive a form to apply for child benefit either in the hospital or when you register your baby. You can apply for tax credits after you register your child, as you will need the details of this to fill in the forms.

No one can tell you what benefits you might be entitled to without knowing your household income.

tax credits usually based on previous years income but they can make assessment on current years income if this will be more than £2500 different from the previous twx year.

further info here www.entitledto.co.uk/help/how-tax-credits-work

It will depend how much your partner earns I thought. I am going on maternity leave and will only get smp. I will get child benefit only as partner earns too much.