Claiming child tax credits

[beckstar21]

Hi!
I'm really confused as to what benefits I can be claiming whilst on maternity leave.
I won't be having SMP at the start of my ML, as through my company I get 6 weeks full pay, then 12 weeks 50% of my monthly salary, plus 50% SMT. I understand I can also claim child tax credits, but at what point would I apply for this? Would it be after the 12 weeks 50% SMT has ended and i'm in receipt of full SMT for the remaining 21 weeks? And if so, at what point would I process the application?
I've looked on line and it says a new claim should be done within 1 month of baby being born, but at this point i wouldn't be entitled as I'm not on SMT. It's all quite confusing!!!
thank you!

Is it not Universal Credit you would claim? Dont know if tax credits still exist for new claimants

Tax credits are a legacy benefit and don't take new claims. Are you talking about child benefit?

Depending on your partners/husbands wages you may not be entitled to anything. You may claim Child Benefit although if someone in the household earns over £50k some or all may need to be paid back

You usually get all the application forms for claiming child tax credits at the hospital after birth. You can not claim until after birth unfortunately. If you need help with it try contacting your local citizens advice, they will have info on all the things you are eligible to claim. You may qualify for more than expected depending on your circumstances.

Child tax credits were replaced by universal credit
If you're talking about Child Benefit then claim as soon as your baby is born

Child tax credits are now defunct ( if you are a potential new claimant) you need to be claiming UC

Way back when, SMP was 6 weeks at 90% pay and x weeks at a fixed amount. If an employer pays more than that they will claim what they can and top up so officially speaking you are on SMP.

I know little about benefits but in your case you probably need to do the calculation when on full pay, 50% pay and SMP to see if you are entitled to claim anything.

Any benefit will be judged on household income so depends if you have a partner/husband who is earning too

Yes, TC replaced by UC, so no longer open to new claims.
It depends on family income whether you qualify or not.
You can claim Child benefit when they are born, about £82 per month, but you don't get /keep it all if the family income is more than 50k ish.

Are you single? You can apply as soon as your income drops significantly. If you have a partner you need to see whether their income will be high enough that you won't be entitled.
No baby related benefit will be paid until you have the birth certificate.
It's also universal credit not child tax credits.

HI - my understanding was it was child tax credits that could be claimed to top up when I'm on statutory maternity pay? Which is around £84 a month? My husband is employed and we would normally be earning over 50k, but obviously if I'm in receipt of SMP then this would be considerably lower.

There are no new claims for child tax credits. It's all universal credit for new claims afaik. If you check entitledto.com it will tell you which benefit you can apply for.
How much does your husband earn? You may not be entitled to anything if it's fairly high.

Child benefit is more likely what you’re thinking of - £20.50a week or £82 a month. Child tax credits can’t be claimed by new claimants now, it’s universal credit instead.

@beckstar21

HI - my understanding was it was child tax credits that could be claimed to top up when I'm on statutory maternity pay? Which is around £84 a month? My husband is employed and we would normally be earning over 50k, but obviously if I'm in receipt of SMP then this would be considerably lower.

Tax Credits were replaced with Universal Credit so you can no longer make a new claim. It depends on your household income as to whether you'd be able to claim anything - it is a means tested Benefit

Child Benefit is not the same thing and can be claimed by everyone although a person in the household earning £50-£60K would have to pay some or all of it back

You're getting confused about different things.

Child Tax Credits are a legacy benefit. You cannot make a new claim whether you ate on stat mat or otherwise.

Child Benefit has a sliding threshold of 60k income per year. If you each earn under 60k you will qualify for some, each under £50k, you will qualify for full, Child Benift. This is around £80 per month and can be claimed as soon as you have registered the child's birth (claim forms are online).

High income child benefit tax is only payable if a single one of you earns over £50k in the year, not based on joint income.
You can claim that once you have the birth registered and if you or your husband earn over £50k in a year it will be the higher tax payer who is liable for the repayment. It's on a sliding scale of % between £50&60k
We got stung by it when husband took a retention bonus, we contacted HMRC but they never informed us about it so added interest on top when we were eventually told about it.

50k a year and you want"topped up" with benefits lol

actually i think it may be child benefits - i'm getting mixed up! it's just very confusing

Depending on what child benefit you can get, you might be better off paying into the tax free childcare scheme. We're doing that as child benefit worked out to be £12 a week- with the childcare scheme you get 20% topped up. www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

You will get the form of child benefit with your documents to register your child's birth. You more thank likely won't be eligible for anything else.

Thanks everyone - it is child benefit I was meaning! that's good to know I can get that pretty much straight away.

Think it can take up to 12 weeks to process but will.be backdated

So if I wanted to make a new claim for universal credit (child tax credit and working tax credit) would I need to wait until the baby is born to get the ball rolling.
I'm a single parent, will get full maternity pay for the first 3 months however it will then drop drastically.
Sorry I have never claimed any benefits before so abit clueless

@Summerrp

So if I wanted to make a new claim for universal credit (child tax credit and working tax credit) would I need to wait until the baby is born to get the ball rolling. I'm a single parent, will get full maternity pay for the first 3 months however it will then drop drastically. Sorry I have never claimed any benefits before so abit clueless

If you’re working and earning a decent wage then yes. If you’re out of work then you can claim now and change circumstances when the baby is born.