How the Government helps meet the financial needs of families

1. Child Benefit Child Benefit is paid to all families to help with the costs of bringing up children.Child Benefit is paid to all families to help with the costs of bringing up children. Families will qualify if they have a child under 16 or under 19 if in full-time education.Families will qualify if they have a child under 16 or under 19 if in full-time education. The current payment is £20.30 a week for the oldest child and £13.40 for each additional child.The current payment is £20.30 a week for the oldest child and £13.40 for each additional child.

2. Income Support Income Support is available to families with adults who are not working or work on average less than 16 hours a week.Income Support is available to families with adults who are not working or work on average less than 16 hours a week. How much is paid depends on your circumstances.How much is paid depends on your circumstances. Age, being a carer, being a lone parent or being sick or disabled can all affect your payments.Age, being a carer, being a lone parent or being sick or disabled can all affect your payments.

3. Jobseeker’s Allowance Jobseeker’s Allowance is available for people who are out of work or working less than 16 hours a week.Jobseeker’s Allowance is available for people who are out of work or working less than 16 hours a week. You can claim it if you are actively seeking work and you are below retirement age.You can claim it if you are actively seeking work and you are below retirement age. The current rate is £53.45 for yr-olds and £67.50 for 25 yr-olds and over.The current rate is £53.45 for yr-olds and £67.50 for 25 yr-olds and over.

4. Working Tax Credit Working Tax Credit is available for people 16 or over who work 16 or more hours a week.Working Tax Credit is available for people 16 or over who work 16 or more hours a week. How much you are paid depends on your age, responsibility for children, disability, number of working hours and income.How much you are paid depends on your age, responsibility for children, disability, number of working hours and income. If you pay for childcare, it can help you get back up to 80% of the costs.If you pay for childcare, it can help you get back up to 80% of the costs.

5. Child Tax Credit Child Tax Credit is an allowance available to all families with children in full-time education.Child Tax Credit is an allowance available to all families with children in full-time education. The amount payable depends on the family’s income (current limit is £41,300)The amount payable depends on the family’s income (current limit is £41,300)

6. Child Trust Fund The Child Trust Fund is a savings and investment account for children.The Child Trust Fund is a savings and investment account for children. Children born on or after 1/09/02 received a voucher for £250 to start their accountChildren born on or after 1/09/02 received a voucher for £250 to start their account ( £500 for a child in a low income family). ( £500 for a child in a low income family).

6. Child Trust Fund The money could not be touched until the child’s 18 th birthday.The money could not be touched until the child’s 18 th birthday. Up to £1,200 a year could be put into the account by parents, family and friendsUp to £1,200 a year could be put into the account by parents, family and friends A further payment of £250 (or £500) would be made on the child’s 7 th birthday.A further payment of £250 (or £500) would be made on the child’s 7 th birthday.

Child Trust Fund Update The new Coalition Government abolished Child Trust Funds as from January 1 st 2011The new Coalition Government abolished Child Trust Funds as from January 1 st 2011 Existing funds will continue to run, but the Government will no longer put money into them.Existing funds will continue to run, but the Government will no longer put money into them.

7. Maternity Pay/Allowance Maternity Pay is paid by an employer for a period of 9 months while a woman takes time off to have a baby.Maternity Pay is paid by an employer for a period of 9 months while a woman takes time off to have a baby. If a person does not qualify, they can claim Maternity Allowance for the same period.If a person does not qualify, they can claim Maternity Allowance for the same period.

8. Paternity Pay Paternity Pay is paid to a male parent by an employer to enable him to take time off work.Paternity Pay is paid to a male parent by an employer to enable him to take time off work. It is paid for one or two weeks after the birth of the child.It is paid for one or two weeks after the birth of the child. A father is also allowed 26 weeks unpaid paternity leave, if he decides to use up some of his wife’s unused maternity leave.A father is also allowed 26 weeks unpaid paternity leave, if he decides to use up some of his wife’s unused maternity leave.

9. Healthy Start This scheme provides: free vitamin supplements without a prescriptionfree vitamin supplements without a prescription weekly vouchers that can be put towards the cost of milk, fresh or plain frozen fruit and vegetables or infant formula milkweekly vouchers that can be put towards the cost of milk, fresh or plain frozen fruit and vegetables or infant formula milk

9. Healthy Start Women will qualify for Healthy Start if they are: at least 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under four at least 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under four receiving benefits such as Income Support or Child Tax Credit with a low incomereceiving benefits such as Income Support or Child Tax Credit with a low income

10. Sure Start Centres These are places which offer advice to parents on all aspects of raising children, especially in deprived areas.These are places which offer advice to parents on all aspects of raising children, especially in deprived areas.

11. Sure Start Maternity Grant This is a one-off payment to help towards the cost of maternity and baby items.This is a one-off payment to help towards the cost of maternity and baby items. Women on a low income and getting certain benefits or tax credits will qualify.Women on a low income and getting certain benefits or tax credits will qualify.

11. Sure Start Maternity Grant The grant of £500 is tax-free and does not have to be repaid.The grant of £500 is tax-free and does not have to be repaid. It is only available if a mother has no other children under 16.It is only available if a mother has no other children under 16.

12. The Social Fund The Social Fund is available for people who are having difficulty in paying bills or buying essential household items.The Social Fund is available for people who are having difficulty in paying bills or buying essential household items. For example, families on a low income can take out a Crisis Loan to pay for essential items.For example, families on a low income can take out a Crisis Loan to pay for essential items. The loan is interest-free but must be paid back.The loan is interest-free but must be paid back.

13. The National Minimum Wage The National Minimum Wage guarantees working people in families a standard amount of money per hour.The National Minimum Wage guarantees working people in families a standard amount of money per hour. From 1 st October 2010, the rates were:From 1 st October 2010, the rates were:  £3.64 an hour for yr-olds  £4.92 an hour for yr-olds  £5.93 an hour for 21 yr-olds and over

14. National Health Service Benefits Families on Income Support or JSA are entitled to benefits under the N.H.S.Families on Income Support or JSA are entitled to benefits under the N.H.S. These include free dental treatment, free eye tests and help with travel costs to and from hospital.These include free dental treatment, free eye tests and help with travel costs to and from hospital. Since April 2011, free prescriptions have been available for everyone.Since April 2011, free prescriptions have been available for everyone.

15. Child Maintenance If someone is bringing up a child who has a parent living somewhere else in the UK or working abroad for a UK based employer, the other parent is legally responsible for providing financial support for their child.If someone is bringing up a child who has a parent living somewhere else in the UK or working abroad for a UK based employer, the other parent is legally responsible for providing financial support for their child.

Child Support Agency (CSA) The Child Support Agency (CSA) calculates and collects maintenance from parents who do not live with their child(ren).The Child Support Agency (CSA) calculates and collects maintenance from parents who do not live with their child(ren). The amount received will depend on the income of the parent who does not live with the child(ren).The amount received will depend on the income of the parent who does not live with the child(ren).

Child Support Agency The Child Support Agency usually collects payment if the parent with care of the child is receiving Income Support or Jobseeker’s Allowance.The Child Support Agency usually collects payment if the parent with care of the child is receiving Income Support or Jobseeker’s Allowance. Otherwise the Child Support Agency will only get involved if either parent asks them to.Otherwise the Child Support Agency will only get involved if either parent asks them to.

Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission In 2008, a new organisation was set up which was supposed to make it easier to deal with Child Maintenance.In 2008, a new organisation was set up which was supposed to make it easier to deal with Child Maintenance. It aimed to be tougher on parents who do not face up to their responsibilities.It aimed to be tougher on parents who do not face up to their responsibilities. It has taken over the Child Support Agency and will eventually replace it.It has taken over the Child Support Agency and will eventually replace it.