Other Help for Pregnant Mums and Parents

There is other help available to pregnant mums and parents with young children that you may not have heard about.  Have a look through and see if you qualify for a few more pennies or help with everyday necessities.  (I've shortened some of the links.)

Free prescriptions and dental care

All mums-to-be qualify for a prescription exemption certificate once their pregnancy has been certified by a doctor or midwife.  You need to complete form FW8 and they will need to sign it.  You’ll be sent a handy little credit card type certificate that you can keep in your wallet. 

Just remember to mention it at the chemist or dentist when you visit!

It entitles you to free prescritions and dental care so get one as soon as possible.  They last until a year after the day your baby is expected.

For more info visit:

http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/1644.aspx

Sure Start Maternity Grant

A grant of £500 is available to parents-to-be on low incomes to help with preparing all those baby essentials.

To see if you qualify for the grant, please visit:   http://bit.ly/8nHu7E
From there you can also download an application form or you can contact your local job centre.

Healthy Start Scheme

Healthy Start is a government scheme that provides vouchers for free milk, fresh fruit and vegetables, infant formula and vitamins to certain pregnant women and children in families on low incomes.

Visit: http://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/ to find out if you are eligible.

You can get an application form from your midwife or health visitor or complete it online.

Lots of shops except the vouchers – look out for the Healthy Start sticker in shop windows or ask in store.

Free School Meals, Milk and More

When you little one starts school they could be entitled to free school meals if you are on a low income.

Visit: http://bit.ly/doxrPK to find out more.

Children who are entitled to free school meals also qualify for free school milk, although all children at school under 5 are eligible for this anyway. 
Visit the coolmilk website for more info:

https://www.coolmilk.com/cms/index.php?q=parents

Lots of schools take part in the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme. 
Children aged 4-6 qualify for a free piece of fruit or vegetable each school day. 
See this leaflet for more information: http://bit.ly/naq4wZ

For families on benefits, help with the cost of school uniform may also be available.
More on this can be found on the DirectGov website:  http://bit.ly/og0GWl

I hope I've just about covered everything, but if there is something you know about that I've missed, please leave a comment - I'd love to cover it!

Child Benefit

You normally qualify for Child Benefit if you have children under 16 (or under 20 if in certain types of education or training), but you do have to apply for it.

You should receive an application in the useful Bounty Pack you are given in hospital when your baby is born (or your midwife will pass you one). 

You can also print off a form here:

www.hmrc.gov.uk/forms/ch2-online-stubb.htm

Applying is pretty straight forward.  You will need to send the original birth certificate with the application form so make sure you register your baby first.

Make sure the form is one of the first things you complete in those first few weeks of parenthood.  If you leave it, you may be missing out on valuable pennies as they will only back date payments for 3 months.

Once it’s completed, send your form and baby’s birth certificate to:

Child Benefit Office (Washington)
Freepost
NEA 10463
PO Box 133
Washington
NE38 7BR

HELPLINE NUMBER:  08453 021 444

The current weekly rates for Child Benefit are:

£20.30 for your first/oldest child

and

£13.40 for other children

It is paid  until the child is either 16 or 20 if he/she is in full time education (up to A Level or equivalent or certain training courses).

The money is usually paid directly into the mother’s bank account on a monthly basis.

                        



www.zestpayroll.co.uk