SSG and Child Tax Credit

[moss]

I don't have my papers with me so I might be getting some of this wrong, but I think I will qualify for the Sure Start if I get child tax credit at a higher than basic rate. Is that right? If so, well how do you qualify for the higher rate? Again, being students, I feel like we won't qualify for anything!

Also, to anyone who applied for Sure Start after they had their baby, how long did it take to get it? I'm thinking about asking if I can borrow the equivalent until I get it (if I know I'm definitely getting it) to hold us over, but I don't want to do that if it is going to take too long.

 

[kalia]

http://www.taxcredits.inlandrevenue.gov ... edits.aspx

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAnd ... /index.htm

These sites will tell you everything about tax credits.

 

[moss]

Okay, thanks. So that means I will get the higher rate of child tax credit. Is that going to automatically entitle us to Sure Start? If so I don't understand why ALL first-time parents don't get it. I have no experience of applying for anything like this so don't know if it takes ages to get the credit, then to apply for SSG and actually receive that. I would do a google search but the internet here is weird and I always get a message saying it is a suspicious search and google blocked it in case it was a virus.

Oh, and I get the higher rate as in this is my first child. Is this what they mean by higher than the family element, or does this means things like guardian's allowance? This might seem like simple wording to them, but if they don't actually define "family element" how are we supposed to know?!

 

[kalia]

The extra money for having a child under 1 doesn't count as being at the higher rate. Tax credits are paid at the higher rate if your income is under £15000 I think. Or it could be £20000.

 

[bunnymom1980]

The extra money for having a child under 1 doesn't count as being at the higher rate. Tax credits are paid at the higher rate if your income is under £15000 I think. Or it could be £20000.

It's quite confusing actually, the tax credits website says that the higher rate is paid to people with a child under 1

 

[moss]

Sometimes I feel they word it badly just to put people off from applying! The application doesn't ask for proof of income, so I guess they just go by Inland Revenue records? I wish it was possible just to apply for everything on one form and then get what you are given!

 

[Noor~ul~Usman]

My sentiments exactly

I had to opposite problem as I thought we earnt too much to even apply for anything but to my surprise we can get quite a lot to 'top up'...it's just if I decide to stay at home after maternity we're pretty much just going to have to live off hubby's wages