Help and benefits for parents

Everyday living
1

Is there any new or due to be new parents of a child out there whom have MS?

I’m due to be a father for the first time later this year.

As you will be aware, I’m sure, there’s going to be a new benefit for parents. I see there has to be parents in full time work.

I have MS and subsequently I’m unable to work full time hours.

Does this mean it’s bascially TS?

I’m trying to find out what I/we are supposed to do? Anything, nothing?

I’m very dissapointed that I’ll miss out on this much needed benefit because I’m disabled.

Anyone else in or going to be in this position?

Thank you,

2

Hi,

I’m not a parent, and not likely to become one at my age, BUT I don’t think it’s a “new benefit” as such, that can be spent on anything. It’s a tax break to help with childcare costs.

If the parents are a couple, BOTH must be working, but I can’t find anything anywhere that says one or both must be working full time.

Are you sure? Where did you get this info?

If, for whatever reason, you wouldn’t be incurring any childcare costs, you can’t get help with an expense you haven’t got.

The Guardian has details about how the scheme will work, here:

Note there IS a minimum income to qualify, so if you are working very few or occasional hours, you might fall foul of that, but timewise, the Guardian says you could be working as little as 8 hours a week.

I’ve not been able to find anything else about new budget provisions specifically for parents, so I assume this must be the scheme you’re talking about?

Tina

3

Hi Tina and thank you for your response here.

I heard there would be a tax break for full time working parents, although I’m not 100% sure now, where they would get £2500 towards child care.

No now I’m not sure but I got this info from the news relating to the budget.

Your comment **"**If, for whatever reason, you wouldn’t be incurring any childcare costs, you can’t get help with an expense you haven’t got". Not sure I’m getting you here. My baby is due October, I’m not sure if we’ll be incurring costs for CC but I imagine we shall I guess, the expense will arrive I’m confident, no scrap that, I would have thought CC care costa will be unavoidable.

I’ll keep looking as I am right now.

Cheers Tina,

Dave.

4

Hi Dave,

Sorry I didn’t see this before.

I didn’t know anything about your personal circumstances, but I know grandparents quite often take on a lot of the childcare these days. All I meant was you couldn’t have a relative do it for free (for example) AND still get money towards it - there has to be proof of expenditure. Also it could be possible for both parents to be working, but such hours that one of them would normally be home for the children - so that’s another way they might not need childcare. Basically, it’s not a no-strings handout. If there’s no provable outlay, there’s no tax back.

Tina

5

Hi Tina,

No need to apologise.

Two grandparents live in different country and the other two could not care for my child.

Well I can’t work full time nor could I look after my own child all day either due to my disability.

Thank you,

Dave