UK benefits for parents single or otherwise

Decided to do this list of all the UK benefits a single/couple parents get.

its not exhaustive


Statutory maternity pay.

The first 6 weeks of SMP are earnings related (90 per cent of your average weekly earnings with no upper limit). The remaining weeks are paid at the standard rate SMP of £117.18 (from 6 April 2008) or the earnings related rate if this is less than standard rate SMP.

You have a right to return to your former job after maternity leave on the same terms and conditions.

If you take additional maternity leave after ordinary maternity leave you have a right to return to the same job, or one with no less favourable terms and conditions if it is not possible for you to return to your former job


http://www.dwp.gov.uk/advisers/ni17a/smp/smp_11.asp#smpamount


extra support

http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Customers/parents_/Dev_015428.xml.html

If you're bringing up children on your own and you start work, from 7 April 2008 we could give you £40 a week (£60 a week in London) on top of your salary, tax free for up to a year. It is called an In Work Credit payment.

this is the extra

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/TaxCreditsandChildBenefit/TaxCredits/DG_4015478

The payment is made up of two elements:

a family element paid to any family with at least one child and worth up to £545 (2008-2009 tax year) a child element paid for each child in the family and worth up to £2,085 (2008-2009 tax year)

Families with children can claim Child Tax Credit if their income is no more than £58,175 a year (up to £66,350 if you have a child under one). The amount you get depends on various things, including your annual income

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/TaxCreditsandChildBenefit/TaxCredits/DG_4015483

To claim Working Tax Credit, you must be aged 25 or over and working at least 30 hours a week unless you belong to one of the following groups:

parents - if you are responsible for a child you have to be aged 16 or over and work for 16 hours or more a week

Basic element paid to everyone who is entitled to receive Working Tax Credit
£1,800 plus Lone parent element £1,770, A childcare element, where you can get back up to 80 per cent of your costs for eligible childcare

£175 maximum eligible cost per week if you're paying for one child

£300 maximum eligible cost per week if you're paying for two or more children

and you may get some of this

Families with children can claim Child Tax Credit if their income is no more than £58,175 a year (up to £66,350 if you have a child under one). The amount you get depends on various things, including your annual income.

The payment is made up of two elements:

a family element paid to any family with at least one child and worth up to £545 (2008-2009 tax year) a child element paid for each child in the family and worth up to £2,085 (2008-2009 tax year)

Now they want to give an extra £55 to cover childcare costs.

to work out the amount in dollars double it roughly speaking.

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