Benefits

[1stgrandchild]

Hi all. I am in need of help and advice. My daughter has just announced she’s expecting her first baby, my first grandchild. Unfortunately, this lovely, exciting news has been overshadowed by her partner deciding to “run off” with somebody else.

She currently works full time and privately rents a property. She’s doesnt want to give up her home but obviously when she has to finish work she won’t have an income. She will have to claim MA as she hasn’t been In her new job for long.

Can anybody advise as to what benefits, financial support she may be entitled to and how we go about claiming. It’s all a bit of a mine field and friends and family have mentioned things from milk tokens, grants, housing benefit, universal and child credit. We just don’t know where to start and im worried sick. Thanks in advance x

If you go on the gov website, there are lots of calculators to enter her info and calculate what she would be entitled to.

Good luck it will all work out

Have a look on "entitled to" and run the calculator with her. She will likely be entitled to child tax credits (they may need to assess income for this year though as usually they based it on the previous years income). Not sure if she will be entitled to income support when on mat pay though.

She should talk to her midwife. Every time I've had a booking in appointment they always ask about finances - presumably so they can signpost any support needed.

Have a look on entitled.to but also I cannot recommend the Citizens Advise enough. They will run through absolutely everything she would be entitled to. Also, it gives such peace of mind to have someone talk it through with you and to have it all on paper rather than relying on what an online calculator has said (albeit a very good one). I'd definitely get down to your local CAB

I don't know if this is any help- but...
She can apply for council tax help being the only parent which is 25-50% cut I think...
For your first baby you can apply for a £500 grant to support you and your baby!!..
she can get help with her rent- housing benefit which can be most or all of it depending on her circumstances...
and she will received about £82 odd pound every 4 week for child benefit..
hopefully she should get child and working tax credit which is a couple of hundred every 4 weeks...
there's lots of help she can apply for on HMRC Website.. hope this helps!

Hi. Thank you all so much. I will have a look at the recommended websites and will definitely book an appointment with local Cit Advise.
Watch this space.... xx