What benefits should I apply for?

[macneil]

Sorry, I never know where to start new threads on subjects I haven't done before, so this may be the wrong place.

I spent the last 8 months in Canada, from 28 weeks pregnant to 4 months old baby. I still worked (freelance) and paid tax in Britain and the baby's father and I are British. I tried to apply for statutory maternity benefit because I'm self-employed, but they told me they'd have to send everything to Canada rather than to me at my mum's address, and then they just ignored me, so that's gone, even though I think I earned it because I'm a British tax payer doing a British job. And I'm broke! But c'est la vie.

Now I'm back, what sort of things ought I to apply for, I'm thinking like... I don't know what it's called now, when I was a kid it was family allowance? or something like that? We're a low - I think - income family, my husband earns about £28k and I earn £5k. Was there also some thing that the government gives each kid £200 to put in a savings account? And where do I go to get these things? I really have no idea.

Well I'm afraid an income of £33k is not classed as low income!!!! Wish it was.

It is child benefit you are talking about. I take it your baby is a British citizen. You need to contact them (think they call themselved child benefit agency or something and it's about £15 per week.

The child trust fund voucher is sent directly to you some time after the baby is born. The thing is if your baby was not registered in the UK the govt won't know about the baby so have a look on their website and contact them.

Then there are working tax credits and stuff you can apply for (reams and reams of forms I'm afraid).

You will be entitled to Child Benefit - everyone is, it's not means tested.

You will probably also be able to claim Child Tax Credit, though don't get too excited - it's not much.

If in doubt, just phone your local tax office and they will be able to tell you who to contact.

"Well I'm afraid an income of £33k is not classed as low income!!!! "

Oh I know! I couldn't edit! I put average, and then wrote low etc over it, and accidentally deleted the average. I meant by that that we wouldn't qualify for anything top uppy, but I thought there were some things that everyone got, regardless of income - that's what I meant.

Okay, will try to look for the web site. I think I haven't registered her, although I have a British passport for her. Right, had better do homework, I don't suppose anything is given retroactively. Thanks

think child benefit is only backdated 3 months, sorry

not sure if you can get the child trust voucher as your baby wasn't born in the uK? not sure about that one

www.entitledto.co.uk

If you received the equivalent of CB in Canada (assuming there is an agreement between the 2 countries to do so) then you may not even get the 3 months backdated for UK one. It may well only start from the date you reentered Britain.

child benefit in Canada is means tested

Well I had nothing to do with Canada, I just quietly had my baby and got out as soon as I could - husband's work gave us medical insurance to have baby, that was all.

Thanks, these links are great. Gosh, I hope I get something. Living in a one bedroom flat, 3rd floor, desperately need to move. The maternity allowance is a real nuisance, I was still paying NI contributions the whole time.

Have a look at:
www.direct.gov.uk
Lots of useful info there.

£33K? Low Income?

Are you taking the fucking PISS?

Ok, just re read thread, and see it was a typo.

I apologise for out burst!