Child Benefit

[Tasha89]

I know this is probably more suited in the Home and Finance section but I know many other Tri 3ers are coming to their due dates and beginning to try and be organised with the finances! lol!

I've spoken to Tax Credits who are sending an application form (0845 300 3900)

And i've just called the Child Benefit Helpline (0845 302 1444), only to be told after been on hold for 15mins that I will get an application form in my Bounty Pack before I leave hospital anyway so needn't have called them...

So it's just a little message to let you know that you DO have to call for Tax Credits but not for Child Benefit. Should save us all a few pennies on our phone bills! lol!

Oh, with Child Benefit you can print the form out at www.hmrc.gov.uk/forms/ch2-online-stubb.htm and post it also (Our printer's on the blink, hence why I wasted my money and called...!)

 

[AugustMum]

O fab thank you

I was unsure about the child benefit one. Im going to ring for the application for tax credits tomorrow I think. Last minute I know but oh well lol. I think you have to wait until you get the birth certificates anyway so s'all good.

 

[flexilexi394]

good to know thanks! x

 

[Spuggy]

I was literally looking for info on what benifits I could get. Thanks for that. How early can you send your form in? Do you have to wait until it is born before you can do anything?

Thanks again. x

 

[Tasha89]

Yeah, you need to wait until after baby is born as they usually require a birth certifiacte but if i've the forms before then at least I can put it in my 'to-do once baby is here' pile! lol!

 

[tinkerbell86]

I'm confused as to which is which.... Which one is the £20 a week and whats the other one???

 

[titch]

child benefit is the one everyone gets £20 per week. Tax credits is much more complicated and means tested. But you'll likely get something once youve got a child.

Its definately worth getting the forms before baby is born. Aparently they are really long and complicated and not possible to complete while sleep deprived!! SO you can fill in all the financial information bit now, then just add the baby's date of birth etc.. after theyre born.

Good luck ringing the line, its ridiculous, if youre lucky enough to end up on hold (often youll just be told to ring back another time) you could be on hold for 20 mins there is a number which is supposed to be for people calling from abroad, and its just a normal landline number, but you get told off for using it, if you can face a telling off, they will actually help you! Ive lost the number now but if you google tax credits international number you should find it.

Alternatively if you can speak welsh there is a dedicated welsh language line, still 0845 number but shockingly, there is never a queue so its a quick call

 

[tinkerbell86]

Oh right is tax credits the one they've reduced to a joint income of £40k from £50!!

my friend works for the jobcentre so might see if she can get the forms for me!! Or can track down how to get me one!!

 

[titch]

they need to take the national insurance number etc.. of anyone collecting a form, they issue you a claim number and stuff so noone can get a form for you. Its a bloomin nightmare, there isnt really a way around it!

 

[tinkerbell86]

bugger!! there was me hoping i'd found a solution!!! i'm so fed up of chasing people with moving house etc i don't want to call anyone lol!!!! Oh well i might leave this till the end of august if they are busy with renewals!!

 

[x-Hannah-x]

I thought that you got the Child Benefit form in the pack you get when you've given birth, coz that's where I got the form.

 

[titch]

yes you do. Its the tax credits form you need to ring up for. And you have to ring an 0845 number, and they leave you on hold for bloomin ages, and the hold music will make you wish your brain would explode...

 

[Tasha89]

I thought that you got the Child Benefit form in the pack you get when you've given birth, coz that's where I got the form.

You do - I didn't realise this until after i'd been on hold for like 20mins with child benefit and the woman who answered told me! Lol! Hence why i've post this to stop everyone else calling the 0845 number for child benefit when they don't need to

 

[Tasha89]

yes you do. Its the tax credits form you need to ring up for. And you have to ring an 0845 number, and they leave you on hold for bloomin ages, and the hold music will make you wish your brain would explode...

Hahahaa! It so does! It's soul destroying!!