Benefit Changes that will affect New Parents

Posted by Confessions of a single mum in Benefits for Single Mums, Latest Posts, Single Mum and Money

The government are making cuts to a several key grants and other welfare entitlements for new parents. Including

• Health in Pregnancy Grant
• Sure Start Maternity Grant
• Baby element of Child Tax Credits
• Toddler element of Child Tax Credit
• Child Trust Fund

For some this can be a worth up to £1735 over a pregnancy and the child’s first year. These loses aren’t being offset by other benefits so there loss of money will be felt.

Tax Credit Changes from April 2011

Posted by Confessions of a single mum in Benefits for Single Mums, Latest Posts, Single Mum and Money

The emergency budget on 22 June set out several substantial changes to the tax credit system. Some are straightforward; others less so.

Below, are those changes coming in from April 2011 under the following headings, explaining what each means and who might be affected:

1. Increases in rates and thresholds
2. Withdrawal rates
3. Family element withdrawal rate
4. The baby element
5. Older workers
6. Disregards

Checking Out The Benefit Changes

Posted by Confessions of a single mum in Benefits for Single Mums, Latest Posts, Single Mum and Money

With all the changes starting to kick in from last year’s budget, it can be hard to figure out what’s happening and when but more importantly how it will affect you and your family. So many people arrive at Confessions of a Single Mum through search terms like..

• What are single mum entitled to
• Single parent changes to benefits
• Budget single mum changes
• Tax credits single mum
• Benefits single mum

Proposed Changes to CSA

Posted by Confessions of a single mum in Benefits for Single Mums, Latest Posts, Single Mum and Money

Talking about the csa is never a fun conversation piece and especially now it’s causing a storm with new change proposals. Over at 2starsandaswirl there is a post about her campaign to stop the proposed changes. Please do stop by and support her.

So what’s the new csa changes proposed?

Changes in Housing Benefit

Posted by Confessions of a single mum in Benefits for Single Mums, Latest Posts, Single Mum and Money

As you all probably aware, things are a changing. One of the benefits that will be changing is Housing Benefit. The LHA rules are changing and they predict that most people will be worse off. The Benefit and tax rates for 2011/12 are likely to be confirmed in the March Budget. But if you want to know in advance if/how the new changes in Housing Benefit are going to affect you then you check yourself at HBupdate.com The site is free of charge and will tell you how next year’s changes to Housing Benefit will affect you. The site is from the Entitled To site which is now fronted by UK charity Turn2Us .

Child and Tax Credits

Posted by Confessions of a single mum in Benefits for Single Mums, Latest Posts, Single Mum and Money

The HM Revenue & Customs quote that 9 out of 10 families with children are entitled to tax credits. The basic requirement is looking after at least one child; you may qualify for Child Tax Credit. If you work more than 16 hours and earn low wages then you may qualify for Tax Credits as well. How much you get depends on things like:

Child Maintenance

Posted by Confessions of a single mum in Benefits for Single Mums, Latest Posts, Single Mum and Money

What is child maintenance?

Child maintenance is regular, reliable financial support which helps towards a child’s everyday living costs. The parent who does not have main day-to-day care of the child provides child maintenance to the parent who does.