What am I entitled to?

[Laurenannxo]

I'm 26 weeks pregnant with my first at 23 years old and my partner is 28. We don't live together but we are looking to move out in the next few months. My partners basic wage is 20k but he earns commission from his job (on and off anywhere between 800 to 2000 every other month). I am on 16,500 but in this tax year I will be earning 7,500 and statutory maternity pay which is 3,500. I am aware we receive child benefits, and have completed the online calculator for child tax credits which says we get £24.16 every 4 weeks. Does claiming child tax credits also make us eligible for the sure start maternity grant? First baby here so I'm completely clueless!! TIA x

You might be eligible for the £500 sure start grant but I think your combined salary's might put you over the threshold. I know our household didn't qualify for it. There is a helpline number I think on the GOV website. Might be worth a quick call to check before you have to fill in a mega form.

I'm not sure about the grant but you should be able to claim child tax credits! You can also get help towards childcare costs when claiming that as well so it's well worth doing!

Doubtful for the grant, its usually for people on very low incomes/unemployed.

So your DPs wage is between 24800 and 32000 but hard to pin down, and your wage is going to be 11000.

I'm pretty sure you won't get any tax credits on those combined wages with just one child, unless you are going to use childcare:

Working tax credit
Basic element £1960
Couple element £2010
30 hour element £810
Child Tax Credit
Family element £545
Child element £2780
Total: £8650

Your minimum wage is £24800+£11000= £35800.

£35800 - income disregard of £6420= £29380

41% withdrawal rate is applied: £29380 x 0.41 = £12045.80

Tax credit allowances- withdrawal = award
£8650-£12045.80=£-3395.80

That's if he doesn't do well with bonuses.

So you won't qualify for tax credits or a sure start grant.

I was allowed to start getting income support after 29 weeks, and the sure start grant. I know this is probably because I wasn't earning and OH income was low.