I'm here again. Client pregnant and on SMP. Husband on IB and DLA MRC. She'll be claiming CTC and is querying maternity grant. Qualifying benefit for this is CTC paid at a rate which exceeds the family element.

Can't get my head round this as surely if she's had a baby and claims it then her CTC will include the family, child and baby element. How can it not?

Sue

The elements are there, but get tapered away according to the income used in the calculation - so the elements left in the award at the end of the calculation process are what count for SSMG entitlement. Depending on income, this can leave only the family element - so no SSMG.

There could also be a problem with SSMG entitlement, if their income from 2006/7 results in this family element award. They may need to give TCO an estimate for current year income after the award is processed (taking care this estimate is accurate throughout the award period)

Be warned too that the DWP tend to process SSMG forms (and refuse the grant) regardless of the 'waiting for Tax Credit etc' box being ticked. It can sometimes be a painful process - feel free to email me for more info.

Nice one HAp. Thank you

Haven't really got anything to add to Helen's excellent advice, but main thing is to get SSMG claim in within first 3 months. DWP will either defer decision until client gets CTC award, or she can claim again at this stage depends on the office.

As Helen says, they may need to get the award revised based on current tax year income in order for the CTC award to be high enough. But this can be difficult if client doesn't know when/if she is going back to work, or how many hours she is going to do.

Another possibility, which we at Working Families THINK is viable, is to put the initial claim in within 3 months, then if CTC is not high enough, but will be based on current year income, wait until the tax credit award is finalised (ie after end of this tax year), and then claim again.

Which option to pursue really depends on family circumstances, how urgently the money is needed and how predictable current year income is.
Rachel