Child Benefits for a new parent

Question

Hi, me and my partner have our 1st baby on the way, he is due in october. Like all couples we are worried about money. At current we both work full time nights and earn £19,000 a year which we are very comfortable on. But after the child is born i plan to change shifts to be at home more with my new family, still working 40 hours and my earnings will go down to 16,000 a year. My partner plans to go part time, 20 hours a week and will earn around £8,000 a year. This is our 1st child and we know nothing about benefits and what we are entitled too. Any help and advice as to what we should look towards claiming and how much we will receive would be a massive help. Thank-you

Answer 1

If you are in the U.K, you will receive child benefit, which is about £18 a week. It doesn't sound alot but, if you get it monthly it really helps with the cost of buying new clothes for your ever growing baby. Also you will be entitled to child tax credits (about £20- £40 a week for the first year) and working tax credits, which will be worked out, based on your joint earnings. You'll get a child benefit form in your bounty pack, once you have had your baby. You can phone tax credits or go to their website, to get a rough estimate on how much you will receive. http://www.taxcredits.inlandrevenue.gov....