Sure Start Maternity Grant

The Sure Start Maternity Grant is a grant that can help families on low incomes cope with the extra costs of a new baby. It is a one-off payment that does not need to be paid back. You can get the grant if you or your partner are receiving Income Support, Income Based Jobseekers Allowance, Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit at a higher rate than the family element or Working
Tax Credit where a disability or severe disability element is included in the award. You can claim from 11 weeks before your baby is due up until three months after your baby is born.

To apply for the Sure Start Maternity Grant you need to complete a form SF100 which you can obtain from your local Jobcentre Plus office.

Questions to ask a childcare provider

Are you registered with Ofsted?

Settings caring for children under 8 years of age for more than 2 hours per day must be registered with Ofsted. Settings that are registered have to meet minimum childcare standards. These include making sure that the person/people providing the care are suitable to do so and ensuring that health and safety standards are met. Some settings do not have to register with Ofsted. These include settings which look after children over 8 years only and childcare that is provided in the child’s own home. These settings can choose to register on the voluntary part of the Ofsted Childcare Register. By registering on the voluntary part of the childcare register the setting is agreeing to meet a set of standards designed to safeguard children. You can check whether a childcare provider is registered by asking to see their registration certificate, or by contacting Stoke-on-Trent Family Information Service. All settings registered by Ofsted may be inspected at any time. Where Ofsted inspections have taken place, you can ask a setting to show you their most recent report. You may also be able to see the report at http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/. Alternatively contact Stoke-on-Trent Family Informaton Service.

Reading with your child

The Parent Channel TV website has lots of helpful information for families. The video below is about enjoying reading for children between the ages of 5 and 7 years old.

Please visit Parent Channel TV to see more great ideas and useful information. http://www.parentchannel.tv/.

Tax Credits

Tax credits are payments from the government. Whether you are eligible and for how much will depend on whether you work, what your income is and how many children you have. If you’re responsible for at least one child or young person who normally lives with you, you may qualify for Child Tax Credit. You do not have to be working to receive Child Tax Credit. If you work, but earn low wages, you may qualify for Working Tax Credit. You do not need to have children to claim Working Tax Credit but if you do, as part of Working Tax Credit you may also qualify for extra help towards the cost of childcare. Other factors that are taken into consideration when calculating your tax credits entitlement are how many hours you work, the age of your children if you have any and if you or any child living with you has a disability.

Benefits and help for parents going back to work

When you move from benefits to work childcare costs are only one of the additional demands on your wages.

Call your local Jobcentre Plus office before you start work to discuss all the support available and to see how much better off financially you could be in employment.

Depending on your status and what benefits you receive, you could be eligible when you start a job, for:
· a tax-free Job Grant of up to £250;
· an extra £40 a week on top of your wages. This will be a tax-free payment for up to a year.

Moving from benefits to work is not easy so ask a Jobcentre Plus adviser about In Work Support.

Jobcentre Plus can also help you make a claim for Working Tax Credit.

Information, advice and guidance

Stoke-on-Trent Family Information Service is an information, advice, guidance and sign-posting service for parents, carers and professionals. The service, which operates as an information hub for parenting, hold information on issues affecting the parents and carers of 0-19 year olds. Issues covered by the service include childcare, family friendly financial benefits (eg. tax credits, childcare vouchers and grants), work-life balance, disabilities and behavioural issues. The service also provides parents and carers with advice and practical strategies on how to tackle some of the issues facing parents as well as sign-posting to more relevant sources of support if appropriate. We are also developing links with local employers to help them in becoming more family friendly towards their workforce.

Please contact us on 0800 015 1120 for more information.