new baby checklist regards benefits

A question about : new baby checklist regards benefits

HI guys

our beloved daughter arrived a few weeks back - i am now looking at wat benefits we are entitled to

We are a prof couple which earn about Ј50,000 per year - but the wife will bein maternity for the year and not sure how does this work with tax credit benefit as she will not be paid in full troughtout the year

also is there any extra benefit we can apply for - remeber reading the state gives u some money (think it was Ј50 or Ј100 to invest for the child)

tried finding some kinda checklist but no luck so far

thansk in advanced

Best answers:

• For tax credits - you can try https://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/questionnaires.htm but I don't think you'll get anything based on that income.
  The Child Trust Fund money has long gone.
  I think it's probably only Child Benefit. You could try https://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx as well though for a full benefits check
• All you get is Child Benefit, me and my husband only qualify for that on a combined income of Ј33,000 a year!
  Tax credits stop at Ј26,000 I think.
• If you pop into your local sure start children's centre (free services for all families with a 0-5 year old, and every community has access to their services), you will be able to speak in person with someone who can advise you further
• to be honest, on a salary of Ј50k, child benefit is the only thing you can expect.
  Families exist on less than a third of this. If it isnt enough you maybe need to do a budget and look at your spending.
  And congratulations to you both on your new baby.
• Agree with above - I did a check on what OH and I might be entitled to with regards to tax credits etc. Big fat zero at only Ј29k between us and as I am the bigger earner Mat leave will be tough!! We are saving hard now we have discovered I am pregnant to try to cushion the blow of statutory maternity pay.
  Congrats on the new baby!
• thanks all for the answers and best wishes had done a bit of research and seen that chances were lil but was worth asking just to be sure
  any child saving fund anyone can reccomend then to start saving some money fro the lil one?
• Junior ISA perhaps