Quids for Kids

Are you confused about what benefits and help you can access?

Look at the circumstance that best describes you, more than one of the circumstances are likely to apply to you and you may be eligible for several benefits:

All Parents
Expecting a baby
You (and your partner) are not working or work less than 16 hours a week
Student
Teenage Parents
Returning to work or Starting work
Parent using childcare
Lone Parents
Caring for a sick or disabled child

All Parents

Child Benefit

Child Benefit is a tax-free payment that you can claim for your child. It is usually paid every four weeks but in some cases can be paid weekly, and there are separate rates for each child. The payment can be claimed by anyone who qualifies, whatever their income or savings.

The only way to claim Child Benefit is to fill in a Child Benefit claim form and send it to the Child Benefit Office along with your child's birth or adoption certificate.

You can download an application from the following:

Child Tax Credit (CTC)

This is an income related benefit for families with dependent children.  You can claim if you are aged over 16 and you are responsible for a child or young person who normally lives with you.  Families with children who are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance will receive additional elements.

For more information contact FYi or the Tax Credit Helpline:

Nursery Education Funding (NEF)

For an up to date list of early years providers please contact FYi

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Expecting a baby

Sure Start Maternity Grant

The Sure Start Maternity Grant is a one-off payment that does not have to be repaid. If you need help with the cost of buying essential items for a new baby, this grant could help you.

You can claim the grant from 11 weeks before your baby is due and up to 3 months after the birth.

For claim forms contact your local Jobcentre Plus or antenatal clinic (see useful contacts section), or download a copy from the internet at:

Please note: you must get your local GP, health visitor or midwife to confirm on your claim form that you received advice about having a baby.

Child Trust Fund

Child Trust Fund (CTF) is a new savings and investment account for children.  Children born on or after 1 September 2002 will receive a voucher to start their account.  The account belongs to the child and can’t be touched until they turn 18, so that children have some money behind them to start their adult life.

A voucher will be sent to you once you have received you Child Benefit award.  You must then open a CTF account.

For more details visit the Child Trust Fund online:

Health in Pregnancy Grant

From April 2009, you can claim a one-off, tax-free payment from H M Revenue & Customs (HMRC) for each pregnancy. It will not affect your tax credits or any other benefits. Everyone will get the same amount – you will not be asked about your income. if you're a mum-to-be who's at least 25 weeks pregnant. The payment is to help you prepare for the birth of your baby.

For more information and to download an application:

Health Benefits

There are a number of National Health Service (NHS) benefits that parents and carers may claim for their children.

  • women who are pregnant or who have had a baby in the last 12 months will get free prescriptions and free NHS dental treatment with a valid Maternity Exemption Certificate, ask your doctor, nurse, midwife or health visitor for form FW8 which they will sign for you.
  • children under 16 (18 for dental treatment) or under 19 in full-time education and adults who get Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance/Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) are entitled to free prescriptions, dental treatment, eyesight tests and vouchers for glasses.
  • adults on Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance may also get help with fares to hospitals and payments from the Social Fund. (See page 10). Others on a low income may claim help under the Low Income Scheme, with a form from your dentist, optician or GP surgery.

For more information on Health Benefits call the NHS Help with Health Costs division on

Healthy Start

You may be entitled to free milk, fresh fruit and vegetables, infant formula and vitamins under the Healthy Start scheme.

For more information on Healthy Start

You'll need to complete an application form and get your midwife, health visitor or registered doctor or nurse to sign it.

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Income Support / Employment Support Allowance (ESA)

Income Support is a means tested benefit that you may be able to claim if you are on a low income. The amount you get will depend on your personal circumstances.

Please see the Health Benefits section to see what other benefits people on Income Support may claim.

To make a claim for Income Support, call the Jobcentre Plus contact centre on

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit are means tested benefits, which help people on low incomes to pay their rent and Council Tax.  Many people think only the unemployed can claim.  You can claim if you are working, receiving other benefits, self-employed or a pensioner, renting privately or from the council, living in a hostel, or similar accommodation.

Normally claims for Housing Benefit should be made by the person responsible for paying the rent to the landlord.

For Council Tax Benefit, the person who is liable to pay the Council Tax for the property should make the claim.

To find out what you may be eligible to claim please call Barnet Council on

Statutory Maternity Pay

Statutory Maternity Pay is paid for a maximum period of 39 weeks.

Your employer will usually pay you Statutory Maternity Pay in the same way and at the same time as your normal wages.

Maternity Pay is treated as normal pay, so your employer will also deduct tax and National Insurance as usual.

To claim Statutory Maternity Pay you must tell your employer at least 28 days before the date you want to start your Statutory Maternity Pay.  Your employer may need you to tell them in writing.

If you can’t get Statutory Maternity Pay, (from any of your employers if you have more than one) you may be able to get Maternity Allowance from Jobcentre Plus instead.

If you or your partner or civil partner is claiming benefits or tax credits, you may be able to get a Sure Start Maternity Grant.

To check your maternity rights, or those of your employees, use the interactive

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Maternity Allowance

If you're pregnant or have a new baby but don't qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP), you may be able to claim Maternity Allowance (MA) through Jobcentre Plus.

MA is paid for a maximum of 39 weeks.

You may be able to get extra money for your husband, civil partner or someone else who looks after your children, if that person is on a very low income.

MA can be paid weekly or every four weeks directly into your bank, building society, Post Office® or National Savings account that accepts Direct Payment.

The earliest you can get MA is from the 11th week before the week your baby's due. The latest you can get it is from the day following your child's birth.

You can ask your local Jobcentre Plus for a claim form (Form MA1) or download one.

Statutory Paternity / Adoption Pay

You can take statutory paternity leave if you:

  • are an employee, with a contract of employment
  • are the biological father of the child or you are the mother’s husband or partner (including same-sex relationships); or you are the child’s adopter or the partner of the adopter
  • have been with your employer for at least 26 weeks by the end of the 15th week before the start of the week in which you are notified of being matched with your child
  • will be fully involved in the child’s upbringing and are taking the time off to support the mother or care for the baby

You can take either one week or two consecutive weeks’ paternity leave and during this time may be entitled to Statutory Paternity Pay.

If you are adopting a child you have the same rights to Maternity and Paternity entitlements, including the levels of pay and the eligibility criteria. The partner within the couple who is not taking Adoption Leave is entitled to paid Paternity Leave.

To check your Paternity rights see

Keeping in touch days

You are entitled to do up to ten days work during your maternity leave without losing maternity pay or bringing your leave to an end.

These 'keeping in touch days' may only be worked if both you and your employer agree. Although particularly useful for things such as training or team events, they may be used for any form of work and should make it easier to return to work after your leave. You will need to agree with your employer what work is to be done on keeping in touch days and how much pay you will receive.

For further information speak to your employer or look online:

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You (and your partner) are not working or work less than 16 hours per week

Social Fund

When you are on a low income it is very difficult to budget for emergency expenses, funeral costs, the costs of a new baby or one-off payments for large items, such as, furnishing a home. You could also be in a situation where you have no money coming in at all.

There is money available for these situations, although it is limited. This is known as the Social Fund.

The Social Fund includes funeral payments, maternity grants, crisis loans, budgeting loans, community care grants and cold weather payments. Winter fuel payments are also a type of Social Fund payment, but they are restricted to people aged 60 and over.

Apart from Crisis Loans, payments are linked to means-tested qualifying benefits.

  • To apply for a Crisis Loan call Jobcentre Plus on Tel: 0800 032 7952
  • To apply for other Social Fund payments call Jobcentre Plus on Tel: 0845 608 8661
  • For further information about Social Fund payments contact your local Jobcentre Plus office or visit Web: www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk

Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

If you're out of work or working less than 16 hours a week on average, you may be able to get Jobseeker's Allowance.

To find out more contact your local Jobcentre Plus contact centre

Benefits for school aged children

Free school meals

Children of families who receive Income Support, Pension Credits or Income based Job Seekers Allowance are entitled to free school meals, as are those in receipt of Child Tax Credit (but not Working Tax Credit) if their annual income (assessed by the Inland Revenue) does not exceed a certain amount.

Asylum seekers who receive support under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 are also entitled to free school meals.

Application forms and further information about free school meals can be obtained directly from schools.

Travel to school

All children under the age of 18 in full time education are allowed to travel free on London buses. Children aged 14+ must apply for an oyster card to prove their age.

The application forms are available from any local post office and there is a one-off administration charge.

You can also see the following benefits in the section: Expecting a baby:

  • Income Support / ESA
  • Housing / Council Tax Benefit
  • Health Benefits
  • Healthy Start

Students

To ensure you find out about all financial help available, contact the Student support section of the education establishment you plan to attend. Officers there will consider your own personal circumstances and needs, and give you advice on what you could claim.

Learner / Childcare Support Fund

Discretionary Support Funds are available in colleges and school sixth forms to help with learning costs.  The funds are prioritised for those who face financial hardship.

If you're at a college, speak to your student support or welfare officer. If you're in a sixth form, get in touch with your tutor or the student awards or student support officer.

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Childcare Grant and Parents Learning Allowance

Help with university or higher education costs

If you're a full-time higher education student with dependent children, you may be able to get extra financial help. The Childcare Grant can help with childcare costs, and the Parents' Learning Allowance with costs related to your course.

If you qualify, the Childcare Grant could cover as much as 85 per cent of your childcare costs during term time and holidays.

You can apply for the Parents’ Learning Allowance whether or not you get the Childcare Grant.

How much you get depends on your household income - and, for the Childcare Grant, the actual costs of your childcare. Any help you get is paid on top of the standard student finance package, and doesn't have to be paid back.

To find out more about either of these grants, contact Student Finance England

To get your copy of the booklet ‘Childcare Grant and other support for full-time student parents in higher education’ contact the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) on:

National Health Service (NHS) Childcare Allowance

All NHS Bursary funded students who have dependent children may apply for Childcare Allowance (CCA) except those who have applied for, or who are only entitled to, a fees only award.

The childcare allowance is based on 85% of your total actual registered or approved

childcare costs up to a maximum amount.  This is an income assessed allowance and the final amount awarded will depend on your circumstances and the income available to you and your family.  Therefore, not all students who apply for Childcare Allowance will be entitled to receive it.

For more information contact the NHS Students helpline

Career Development Loan (CDL)

A Career Development Loan (CDL) can help you gain the experience, training and qualifications you need to improve your job skills or even launch a new career

You can use it to fund a variety of courses with a wide range of organisations, so you are able to choose the course that best suits your needs. You can apply for a CDL if you are employed, self-employed or unemployed.

CDLs are available through an arrangement between the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and three high street banks.

A CDL is a personal loan between you and the bank, and you are responsible for repaying it to the bank. Before applying for a loan, check how much your monthly repayments will be, and that you feel confident that you will be able to make them.

Contact the CDL Information Line

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Barnet student support - Higher Education

Changes to student finance from 1 January 2009

In line with a new national programme, Barnet Council will no longer be responsible for assessing financial support given to students entering higher education from the start of the 2009 academic year.

New students will now be assessed by Student Finance England, a partnership between the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and the Student Loans Company Ltd.

Existing and continuing students will remain with Barnet Student Finance

Alternatively:

  • Tel: 0208 359 2233 Monday 9am -1pm Wednesday 1pm-5pm and Friday 9am - 1pm from January 2009.

Scheduled surgeries will no longer be available with new applicants asked contact Student Finance England on:

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Grants and bursaries

The Educational Grants Advisory Service (EGAS) provides advice and information on sources of funding available for post-16 education and training.

They specialise in charitable trust funding, and maintain a database of trusts and charities that assist students.

For more information contact the EGAS:

Free Childcare for Training and Learning for Work

This is a new scheme that will support adults (aged 20 years and over) by paying for childcare and travel costs while they are undertaking learning leading to work.

The aim of the scheme is to encourage the non-working parent within a family to participate in learning or training that will help lead them into sustainable employment.

For further information please visit:

To order an application pack:

  • Tel: 0845 602 2260 or
  • Email: lsc@prolog.uk.com making sure you quote the reference LSC-P-NAT-080223 to make sure you get the correct application pack.

You can also see the following benefits in the sections: All Parents and Lone Parents

  • Child Tax Credit
  • New Deal for Lone Parents

Teenage parents

Care to Learn

Parents under 20 who are studying can receive money per child towards childcare costs and associated childcare travel costs.  For more information:

Education Maintenance Allowance

Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) pays a weekly amount directly to into a young person’s bank account if they stay on in education; at school or college after GCSEs for any academic or vocational course which involves at least 12 hours of guided learning per week.

On top of your weekly amount you can also receive bonuses – but only if you continue to do well and meet targets set by your teacher, tutor or provider when you start.

  • For more information and to see if you qualify contact EMA:
  • Tel: 0800 121 8989 or
  • Web: www.direct.gov.uk/ema

Application forms are also available from schools colleges, learning providers or Connexions personal advisers.

For general information on financial help for young people aged between 16 and 19 years old call the Learning Skills Council on:

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Barnet Youth & Connexions

Barnet Youth and Connexions is a fast moving, responsive service, open to new ideas whilst keeping the voice of the young person at the centre of our work.

For more information

(see also section Students)

Returning to work or starting work

Working Tax Credit

This is an income related benefit paid to working families with dependent children. To claim Working Tax Credit your income must be below a set limit, you must be working at least 16 hours per week and be responsible for a child or young person, who normally lives with you.

For more information contact the Tax Credit Helpline

Help from your employer

Many employers, especially larger companies, may offer help with childcare for their employees. For example:

Childcare Vouchers

Some employers run a childcare voucher scheme to help you pay for childcare. Childcare vouchers can be offered to you in addition to your cash salary, but many employers offer them as a ‘salary sacrifice’. This means that you sacrifice a specific amount of your salary and in exchange receive that amount in childcare.  Both you and your employer can gain because you do not pay tax or national insurance on the vouchers.

Please discuss this scheme directly with your employer or visit:

You can also see the following benefits in the section: Expecting a baby:

  • Health benefits
  • Housing / Council Tax Benefit

Parent using childcare

For information on if you would be better off accepting childcare vouchers in return for a salary sacrifice or by claiming tax credits help towards my childcare costs and other questions please see the link below:

Childcare element of the Working Tax Credit

You may get help with childcare costs if you pay for registered or approved childcare and if, as a lone parent you work at least 16 hours per week or, as a couple you both work at least 16 hours per week. The childcare element of the Working Tax Credit pays up to 80% of registered childcare costs.

To find out if you are eligible or to make a claim:

Ask the childcare provider

Many private, voluntary and independent nurseries offer a 5-10% sibling discount if you have more than one child in the nursery. Similarly some holiday schemes and out of school schemes have a concessionary fee for those people who are unemployed or receive benefits. To find out more ask the manager or a staff member at the childcare setting your child attends.

You can also see the following benefits in the sections: All Parents and Returning to work or Starting work:

  • Nursery Education Funding
  • Help from your employer

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Lone parent

New Deal for Lone Parents

The New Deal for Lone Parents programme could help you to find and stay in work if you are:

  • a lone parent and
  • either unemployed or working less than 16 hours per week, and
  • your youngest child is aged under 16 years old

For more information visit your local Jobcentre Plus or

(see also section Parent using childcare)

Caring for a sick or disabled child

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

You may get Disability Living Allowance if:

  • you have a physical or mental disability, or both
  • your disability is severe enough for you to need help caring for yourself or you have walking difficulties, or both
  • you are under 65 when you claim

If you are aged 65 or over, you may be able to get Attendance Allowance (AA) which assesses someone’s care needs only.

DLA and AA are not means tested or taxable, they can be paid in addition to most other benefits, and may increase the amount of other benefits you are entitled to.

To request a claim form, call the Benefit Enquiry Line:

Carer’s Allowance

You may be able to claim Carer’s Allowance if you look after a child for at least 35 hours per week who receives Disability Living Allowance at the middle or higher rate for personal care.

This benefit is not means-tested, but you cannot claim Carer's Allowance if you are in full-time education with 21 hours or more a week of supervised study or earn more than a certain amount per week after certain deductions have been made (such as Income Tax).

For further information or to make a claim contact your local Jobcentre Plus or call the Carer’s Allowance Unit on

Family Fund

The Family Fund gives grants that relate to the additional needs of your disabled child and which help relieve the stress of everyday life.

For more information or to get an application pack:

Direct Payments

If you are a carer and provide 20 or more hours of support to a disabled person or older adult in Barnet then you may be eligible for a carers Direct Payment.

Web: Direct Payments Guidance; Community Care, Services for Carers and Children's Services (Direct Payments) Guidance is published by the Department of Health (2003).

You can request a copy of 'A parent's guide to direct payments' from the Department for Chidlren, Schools and Families.

  • Tel: 0845 60 222 60 and quote 0202-2006DOC-EN

You can also see the following benefits in the sections: All Parents and Expecting a baby:

  • Child Tax Credit (Disabled element)
  • Housing / council Tax benefit
  • Income Support / ESA

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Children, young people and families

email icon Email this pageLast modified by: Laura Mawby on 29/06/2009


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