elligible for sure start grant?

[lydiathetattooedlady]

we get £568 a year in ctc but no element of working tax credits, does this mean we're eligible for the sure start maternity grant? i know there's no definate answer until we do the forms was just wondering? i didnt think we were as on an in come of nearly £30,000?? can anyone clarify one way or another? really paincking about money and receiving this grant would be a great help!

I am pretty sure you only get it if you qualify for working tax credits. May be wrong though.

ive had a look and it says the child tax credits of the family element. the minimum is 545 and it seems you need more than that to qualify for it, so we're £13 over, just wondered if that was enough?

If you get one penny over the basic award of £545 you won't get it.

The DWP page says:

You are eligible for a Sure Start Maternity Grant if you or your partner are getting Income Support, income-based Jobseeker?s Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance (income-related), Pension Credit, Working Tax Credit where a disability or severe disability element is included in the award or Child Tax Credit at a rate higher than the family element. [Legislation (2)] and one of the following applies:
You or your partner:

• are pregnant and expecting a baby within 11 weeks,
• have had a baby in the past 3 months,
• have a dependent child or dependent young person who is pregnant and expecting a baby within 11 weeks or who has had a baby in the past 3 months,
• have adopted a baby who is under 12 months old,
• have, in certain circumstances, been granted a residence order by the courts in respect of a baby who is under 12 months old, or
• have been granted a parental order by the courts in respect of a surrogate birth.

If you have a partner, either of you may apply for the grant. But if your partner applies, the name of the child?s mother should be included.

We use partner to mean:

• a person you are married to or a person you live with as if you are married to them, or
• a civil partner or a person you live with as if you are civil partners.

If you have any savings

Savings do not affect Sure Start Maternity Grants.

aargggh this is so confusing, a woman my dp works with said you need to get over the minimum, as you're on a lower class wage, the more tax credits the less you earn in theory??

Nope, the tax creit system isn't that basic!

Sometimes the more you earn the more tax credits you are entitled to!

ahhh nuts!

Pretty sure you have to get WTC.

Who can get the grant?
You can get a Sure Start Maternity Grant if you or your partner are getting:

-Income Support
-Income based Jobseeker's Allowance
Pension Credit
-Child Tax Credit at a higher rate than family element OR
-Working Tax Credit where a disability or severe disability element is included in the award

....from the surestart website. Seems quite clear that your higher rate of CTC qualifies you, but £30000 doesn't sound like a low income so I don't know!

Sorry ignore my post of 2223.

"If you get one penny over the basic award of £545 you won't get it."

I meant the opposite. I have had wine

No, you would be entitled to it. If you get one penny over the basic award, you are entitled.

We got it because we are over the CTC family element. (We get WTC as well but that is irrelevent I think since we are not disabled)

What if, like me you're a lone parent who doesn't work - I have two other children - one who gets DLA and I don't get WTC - I thought you only got that if you work? I've heard of most single mums getting the grant if they can't work.

You can also get it if you are on income support or JSA.

You can get it if:

You are on a qualifying benefit,

OR

You get CTC at a rate higher than the basic award. That means £545, or £1090 if you have a baby under 1 year old.

If you get £558 per year, you are entitled to it. Bear in mind that the addition of another child will give you another 'child' element of your CTC, so you will almost certainly get more tax credits.

Best advice is to fill in the form, get your midwife to sign it, then send it off. They will soon tell you if you DON'T qualify!

We got it, and don't get WTC. Bear in mind, that when you have your baby, your tax credits will go up so you can claim then. It is always worth putting in a claim form!

Don't forget the new Health in pregnancy grant from April this year.