Child benefit/tax credits question

[Cosmogirl]

How do you go about claiming child benefit and tax cred etc...? Am 30 weeks and trying to start getting organised with finances etc...

Thanks.

You'll get given a form for the child benefit - in your bounty pack at the hospital I think.

Once the baby is born, phone up the Tax credit helpline, they'll take some info, give you an idea of what you're due and send you a form. It's helpful to have P60's handy (or have an idea of what your family income will be in total this year) when you call.

If you search around the inland revenue website you'll find a calculator that will give you a rough idea of what you might be entitled to.

Good luck with the new arrival!

Thanks . Thought I'd heard something about the Bounty pack containing info. What other goodies does it contain?

When's your EDD? I think they're starting to offer a little Child Benefit? in the last weeks of pregnancy from April but you may miss out.

We had to register the baby as well as waiting for him to be born for at least one of the claims, and I had to wait a couple of weeks for an appointment, but once you claim it's backdated for up to 3 months.

EDD is 31st March, so I think I will miss out on it..

Oh, I cant remember - some sudocrem and a wipes box I think? I didn't use anything from my pack!

Yep, you definitely need to register the baby before you do something (but cant remember what and it was only 6 months ago). At my registry office you didn't need an appt.

They do process the claims for tax credit and child benefit fairly quickly, so the sooner you claim the sooner you'll get it.