Benefit you've never heard of worth £500 for new mums
NEW mums could be missing out on a benefit worth £500.
The Sure Start Maternity Grant is a scheme which offers a one-off payment to those expecting their first child or having multiple births such as twins.
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The money is designed to help you cover the cost of caring for a newborn.
The amount you receive can also vary depending on how many babies you are carrying, with parents expecting triplets eligible for £1,000.
To qualify for the support, you or your partner must be claiming certain benefits such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit or Income Support.
You must also have no other children under the age of 16, unless you are expecting multiple births.
Other exceptions include caring for someone else's child and the infant was over 12 months old when the arrangement started.
This does include caring for your partner's child.
You may also be able to get a grant if you're adopting or becoming a surrogate parent.
The baby must be less than 1 year old on the date you claim and you must be claiming benefits to qualify.
You don't have to pay the grant back and it does not impact your other benefits or tax credits.
If you are thinking about applying, you must claim the grant within 11 weeks of the baby's due date or within 6 months after the baby's birth.
Carer Support Payment: New benefit for unpaid Scots
How to apply
To apply for the support via post, you will need to fill out a Sure Start Maternity Grant (SF100) claim form.
This form needs to be printed off and then posted to 'Freepost DWP SSMG'. You do not need a postcode or a stamp.
You also need to provide evidence of the pregnancy or childbirth from a health professional, such as a doctor or midwife.
They can either fill in a form MAT B1, which they should already have a copy of or write a statement confirming the pregnancy or childbirth.
You will get a letter about whether your claim is successful within 28 days.
But if you've recently made a new Universal Credit claim, it could take longer.
What help is available for parents?
CHILDCARE can be a costly business. Here is how you can get help.
30 hours free childcare - Parents of three and four-year-olds can apply for 30 hours free childcare a week.
To qualify you must usually work at least 16 hours a week at the national living or minimum wage and earn less than £100,000 a year.
Tax credits - For children under 20, some families can get help with childcare costs.
Childcare vouchers - If your employer offers childcare vouchers you can get up to £55 a week in tax and national insurance savings.
You pay for your childcare before your tax contributions are taken out.
This scheme is open to new joiners until October 4, 2018, when it is planned that tax-free childcare will replace the vouchers.
Tax-free childcare - Available to working families and the self-employed, for every £8 you put in the government will add an extra £2.
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