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New parent check list – how to avoid missing out on £13,700 worth of benefits and savings
New parent check list – how to avoid missing out on £13,700 worth of benefits and savings

Scottish Sun

timea day ago

  • Business
  • Scottish Sun

New parent check list – how to avoid missing out on £13,700 worth of benefits and savings

Scroll to see how you can get cash for food and free childcare BABY BRAIN New parent check list – how to avoid missing out on £13,700 worth of benefits and savings Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WELCOMING a new baby into the world is a beautiful experience for most parents but the cost of raising a child can be daunting. From specialist gear such as prams, bed and nappies, through to food and childcare, the cost of being a parent is staggeringly high. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 As soon as you're pregnant, help becomes available Credit: Getty Fortunately, there is plenty of help available for parents if you know where to look. Here is a checklist of items to make sure you get all the financial help you can whether you are becoming a parent for the first time or having another child... Apply for Sure Start If you're expecting your first child and receive selected benefits you could get a one-off payment of £500 to help pay for costs such as a new cot or pram through the government's Sure Start scheme. You can claim within 11 weeks of the baby's due date and you don't have to pay the money back. You will need to claim within six months after the baby's birth. You can only get the grant if you don't have any other children udner 16. And you or your partner must also get one of these benefits: Income Support income-based Jobseeker's Allowance income-related Employment and Support Allowance Pension Credit Universal Credit You could qualify if you're getting a Support for Mortgage Interest loan. You'll need to print out and fill in the Sure Start application form available on the gov website. Or for more help contact the Sure Start Maternity Grant helpline on 0800 169 0140. Apply for Healthy Start The Healthy Start scheme helps low income pregnant women and families with young children to afford nutricious groceries, including fruit, vegetables, and milk. The scheme is a weekly allowance of £4.25 for people over 10 weeks pregnant, £8.50 for the first year of a child's life, and £4.25 a week for children aged one to four. It works out as up to £442 worth of essentials over the year for a child. Eligibility is based on income levels and entitlement to means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit or: Child tax credits (only if your family's annual income is £16,190 or less) Income support Income-based jobseeker's allowance Pension credit (which includes the child addition) Universal Credit (only if your family's take-home pay is £408 or less per month from employment) For more information or to apply, visit Find out what you're entitled to You should use a benefits calculator to find out what you are entitled to and keep checking throughout maternity leave, as your pay changes, according to Katie Guild, co-founder of financial parenting website Nugget Savings. She says: "Whilst you might not be entitled to benefits like Universal Credit normally, when your wage drops to statutory pay only or you enter the unpaid period of leave, your household wage may suddenly be low enough to claim. "So it's worth checking in with the calculators to see if you are eligible every time your circumstances change." It's easy to do a quick check of benefits you could be entitled to. You just need to use a free online tool. Any of the following three should bring up extra help you could claim: You will need certain information ready to give the calculators such as savings, household income, including your partner's, existing benefits and pensions, as well as outgoings. You can get extra Universal Credit if you have children. For a first child born after 2017 this is worth £292.81 a month or £3,513.72 a year. Claim child benefit as soon as possible Once you have children you become eligible for child benefit. This is worth £26.05 a week for your eldest or only child, and you then get a further £17.25 for every additional child. For example, eligible families with two children, the payment is worth £2,251.60 a year. You can only backdate the payments for a maximum of three months, so claim as soon as possible after birth to avoid missing out. Any household that earns less than £80,000 a year are entitled to the full payment. But if you or your partner earns more than £60,000, you'll have to repay part of the benefit through the high income child benefit charge. Once you or your partner earns more than £80,000 a year, the amount you'll have to repay cancels out the payment. Katie adds: "If you're normally over the £80,000 threshold consider whether low maternity pay brings your earnings below the thresholds for the current tax year. "If it does, claim for the year and just de-register from the payments as soon as your wage goes over the threshold again." You can also still claim Child Benefit but crucially opt out of receiving payments to build up National Insurance contributions, which are used to calculate your State Pension entitlement in retirement. You need 35 years of NI contributions for a full state pension. This is why it's important to claim child benefit even if you opt out of payments. Consider childcare Childcare is a huge financial burden on working parents. However, from September there are 30 free childcare hours for children over 9 months. This is typically worth more than £5,000 a year. Katie says: "These schemes involve a lot of rules and eligibility requirements, so it's good to get your head around them in good time so you don't miss out on deadlines. "We recommend checking out the childcare choices website so you can apply for the various schemes on time." In some areas, childcare spaces are in high demand and there are waiting lists for nurseries so its a good idea to consider what you will need in advance of returning to work, for example. In some cases, you may need to put down a deposit to guarantee spots. Apply for tax-free childcare Before you need to start paying for childcare, you should open a tax-free childcare account. This gives an extra boost towards the cost of paying for childcare through nursery or recognised childcare providers. The government scheme gives £2 free for every £8 put into an account, which is then used to pay providers. Parents can get up to a maximum of £2,000 a year per child or £4,000 if their child is disabled. This is huge help in the cost of care, so register well in advance to get it set up. You'll need to give details about you and your partners income, as well as confirming details every three months so you can also get the free hours, as well as tax-free childcare. What help is available to parents for childcare costs? CHILDCARE can be a costly business. Here is how you can get help. 30 hours of free childcare - Parents of three and four-year-olds can apply for 30 hours of free childcare a week. To qualify you must work at least 16 hours a week at the national living or minimum wage and earn less than £100,000 a year. free childcare - Parents of three and four-year-olds can apply for 30 hours of free childcare a week. To qualify you must 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. For children under 20, some families can get help with childcare costs. Tax-free childcare - Available to working families and the self-employed, for every £8 you put in the government will add an extra £2.

Seven cheap days out for children with autism and ADHD this summer including Chessington and The Science Museum
Seven cheap days out for children with autism and ADHD this summer including Chessington and The Science Museum

Scottish Sun

time3 days ago

  • Entertainment
  • Scottish Sun

Seven cheap days out for children with autism and ADHD this summer including Chessington and The Science Museum

Ever wondered if you're eligible for benefits? Find out if you qualify below... TO YOUR BENEFIT Seven cheap days out for children with autism and ADHD this summer including Chessington and The Science Museum Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CHILDREN with autism or ADHD can get access to cheap days out this summer. Venues, attractions and museums often sell concessionary tickets to households on benefits, including Disability Living Allowance (DLA). Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Families with children with autism or ADHD can get cheap days out this summer Credit: Alamy The benefit is for children aged under 16 with mobility or care needs such as autism or ADHD. From theme parks to opera performances, here are some of the cheaper days out those on DLA can unlock this summer. Alton Towers Guests to Alton Towers who claim DLA are entitled to one free companion ticket, should that person need a carer. However, the guest on DLA and any further members of their party will have to pay full price for tickets. Read more on Benefits POT LUCK State pension could rise by £478 next year for millions of households Day pass tickets for adults cost from £34. Find out more via Chessington Visitors on DLA can also claim one free companion ticket at Chessington World of Adventures. The guest with the disability and any other party members have to pay full price for tickets. Day pass tickets cost from £32. Find out more via Science Museum The Science Museum in London offers "early bird" reduced rate tickets to sensory friendly events for children with autism. Three key benefits that YOU could be missing out on, and one even gives you a free TV Licence Standard ticket prices to non-early bird events vary but can cost between £15 and £18. Find out more via Stanley Arts Stanley Arts, in London, runs an Affordable Ticket Scheme offering free or discounted tickets to selected performances. Tickets usually cost up to £14. You may also get subsidised entry to workshops and audio-described tours. However, the scheme is only open to residents living in the following postcodes: SE25, CR0, SE19, SE20 or CR7. You will also need to be on one of the following benefits: Attendance Allowance Carer's Allowance Your child receives Free School Meals Disability Living Allowance (DLA) Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Housing Benefit Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) Pension Credit Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Universal Credit (UC) Bereavement Support Payment You can sign up and find out more via Opera North National opera company Opera North, in Leeds, offers £10 tickets to households on Attendance Allowance. You can also claim the concessionary tickets if you're on Pension Credit, Disability Living Allowance, PIP and Universal Credit. Standard entry tickets can cost from £16. Find out more via UK Cinema Association cinema trips The UK Cinema Association (UKCA) runs a CEA Card scheme offering those on Attendance Allowance free carer tickets. The card costs £6.50 per year and can be used to claim free tickets across more than 100 venues. You can also apply if you're on Disability Living Allowance, PIP, Adult/Child Disability Payment or Armed Forces Independence Payment. More details and how to apply can be found via Arts Depot The Arts Depot, London, offers free and subsidised tickets (usually costing £14) for selected shows across the year. To claim the tickets you have to first apply for the Artsdepot Access Fund. You will then be able to access two tickets for adult shows and up to four tickets for family shows on a first come first serve basis. To qualify, you must live in: Barnet, Harrow, Brent, Camden, Haringey, Enfield or Hertfordshire. You must also be on one of the following benefits: Attendance Allowance Carers Allowance Child receives free school meals Disability Living Allowance (DLA) Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Housing Benefit Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) Pension Credit Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Universal Credit (UC) For further details and to apply go to Are you missing out on benefits? YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to Charity Turn2Us' benefits calculator works out what you could get. Entitledto's free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit. and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto's data. You can use Policy in Practice's calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you'll have left over each month after paying for housing costs. Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

Full list of people eligible for DWP scheme worth up to £909 a month
Full list of people eligible for DWP scheme worth up to £909 a month

Daily Mirror

time4 days ago

  • Business
  • Daily Mirror

Full list of people eligible for DWP scheme worth up to £909 a month

The Department for Work and Pensions offers extra money to certain existing benefit claims to help those living with a disability - here's everything you need to know The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) provides additional funds to certain existing benefit claims to assist those with disabilities. In some instances, these disability premiums can amount to over £900 a month. ‌ Disability premiums are extra sums of money automatically added to benefit payments, so typically, you don't need to apply for them. For adult claimants, there are three distinct types of disability premiums depending on the severity of your disability, and it's possible to receive more than one premium simultaneously. ‌ The three types of disability premiums for adults are the disability premium, the enhanced disability premium, and the severe disability premium. It comes after a state pension warning for millions of Brits who are between two specific ages. ‌ Here's the full list of eligibility and DWP payments available, as reported by the Manchester Evening News. ‌ Eligibility The benefits that qualify for supplementary disability premium payments are:. Income Support income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Housing Benefit Disability premium To be eligible for the disability premium, either you or your partner must be under pension credit age and either registered blind or receiving:. ‌ Disability Living Allowance (DLA) Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Adult Disability Payment (ADP) Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) Working Tax Credit with a disability element Attendance Allowance Constant Attendance Allowance War Pensioners Mobility Supplement Severe Disablement Allowance Incapacity Benefit If you do not meet these criteria, you may still receive the premium if you've been unable to work for at least a year. If you receive income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), you cannot receive the disability premium, but you may still qualify for the severe and enhanced premiums. Severe disability premium To be eligible for the severe disability premium, you must receive the disability premium or income-related ESA, along with one of the qualifying benefits:. ‌ PIP daily living component AFIP DLA care component at the middle or highest rate Adult Disability Payment - daily living component at the standard or enhanced rate Attendance Allowance (or Constant Attendance Allowance paid with Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit or War Pension) Typically, you cannot have anyone aged 18 or over living with you, unless they fall into one of these situations: they get a qualifying benefit they're registered blind they're a boarder or subtenant (but not a close relative) they make separate payments to the landlord ‌ You are not eligible for the severe disability premium if someone is receiving one of the following for caring for you:. Carer's Allowance the carers element of Universal Credit Carer Support Payment If you're part of a couple: ‌ If both you and your partner qualify, you'll receive the higher amount of severe disability premium. You can get the lower amount if: someone gets Carer's Allowance, the carers element of Universal Credit or Carer Support Payment for looking after only one of you only one of you meets the eligibility criteria and the other is registered blind ‌ Enhanced disability premium To qualify for this, you must be under pension credit age. You must receive the disability premium or income-related ESA, and one of the following: PIP daily living component at the higher ('enhanced') rate AFIP DLA care component at the highest rate Adult Disability Payment - daily living component at the enhanced rate You'll also qualify if you're in the support group for income-related ESA. ‌ How much will I receive? Disability premium You'll get: £43.20 a week for a single person £61.65 a week for a couple ‌ Severe disability premium You'll get: £82.90 a week for a single person £165.80 a week for a couple if you're both eligible ‌ Some couples may qualify for the lower amount of £81.50 per week instead. Enhanced disability premium You'll get: ‌ £21.20 a week for a single person £30.25 a week for a couple if at least one of you is eligible You can receive the disability premium on its own, but if you meet the criteria, you might also qualify for the severe or enhanced disability premium. This means that if you're in a couple and you receive both the disability premium and the severe disability premium, you will receive £909.80 per month. How am I paid? The DWP automatically pays all benefits, pensions, and allowances into an account, such as your bank account.

Powys council urges hundreds to check PIP eligibility
Powys council urges hundreds to check PIP eligibility

Powys County Times

time6 days ago

  • Health
  • Powys County Times

Powys council urges hundreds to check PIP eligibility

Hundreds of adults in Powys could be missing out on financial support. Powys County Council believes more than 700 people with a disability or long-term health condition may be eligible for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) but are not currently claiming it. Cllr Matthew Dorrance, deputy leader and cabinet member for a Fairer Powys, said: "If you have a long-term health condition, or disability, and need help with everyday tasks, or with getting around, then you could be eligible for PIP. "We are here to help, if needed, and want to make sure that everyone is receiving all the financial help they are entitled to, especially households with children. "More than 200 of these letters will be going to parents, or other adults who are looking after a child in Powys." The council identified the individuals using data analytics and will write to them over the coming weeks to encourage them to check their eligibility for PIP. Eligible individuals could receive several thousand pounds extra per year. Those identified are already receiving Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and are classified as having Limited Capability for Work-Related Activity (LCWRA), but are not currently claiming PIP. PIP is available to people who have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability and who struggle with everyday tasks or mobility. The council's letter explains the benefits and offers support with the application process. To support the effort, Powys County Council has invested in the Low Income Family Tracker (LIFT), an intelligent data analytics platform designed to identify those most in need. Cllr Dorrance said: "The LIFT platform should help us target our help where it's most needed." This follows action taken in June, when the council wrote to nearly 900 households believed to be struggling financially, offering support. Those households were invited to access free and confidential help, including advice on managing household bills, energy costs, benefits, budgeting, and debt. This support remains available to anyone in Powys facing financial difficulties. The council's trained advisors can provide support online, by phone, in person at a council office, in the community, or at people's homes. Council tenants can get help by calling 01597 827464, emailing fsogroup@ or visiting

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