What can they claim?

Question

Please can anyone help. My son and his girlfriend are expecting their 1st baby. They live with us but both are only 16. The girlfriend has been in a room with my daughter but as I cant watch them both 24/7 . Are there any benefits they can claim. Both my husband and I work but are only just managing to pay are way so we can'T afford to bring up another baby. Is there any help? what benfits can they claim? would it be better if they got a place on theri own? WE just dont know where to go to get the correct help for them both> Plz can anyone help

Answer 1

towards the end of the pregnancy i do believe they can claim some sort of maternity cheque about £500 to help get the babies stuff, and obviously they would get child benefit and some form of social benefit - but how about getting your son to actually find a job and provide for the child he is now bringing into the world, any work no matter how much or little it pays is a start and surely better then chasing handouts, if he doesnt get a job now and provide and your telling them they can claim x,y and z then what example are you showing them??
they created this child - they should try there best to provide something no matter how little!

Answer 2

Is this young girl getting anti natal care ?The midwife may be able to put you in touch with a project which could get her the help she is entitled to . you might have to be cruel to be kind to her by saying she is homeless My daughter & her baby daughter are in a mother and baby house which she shares with another girl and her baby it is run by NACRO Go to the CAB (no. your local branch should be in the phone book) with the young couple and they should know what benifits I dont think at 16 livng in a family home she is entitled to anything but being pregnent an homeless might change this . Where are her parents cant they help .You sound a good caring mum worrying about your own children and your grandchilds mother and wanting the best for them all .Hope you get the help you need for this little family .I tryed to phone my daughter to ask her advice but could not get through if I find out more will edit this later . I can empathize with you in this situation . My daughter is over 18 so had been in work I dont know what the rules for 16 yr olds are .. CONGRATULATIONS NANNY.

Answer 3

They would definitely benefit more from getting their own place, purely based on the help they would receive setting up their home.
The best thing you can do is go to housing office and tell them that you are happy for your son and his pregnant girlfriend to live with you until she has the baby but then they will have to move out as you don't have the room. (you will have to provide proof of pregnancy, like a hospital letter)
They will put you're son and his girlfriend on the homeless housing list, this means that your home can be their "homeless temporary accommodation", without them being put into a homeless home.
When they are accepted onto the homeless housing list you will be asked if you want a support worker-
PLEASE TAKE ONE!! They might not offer you one if you're "homeless from home" but please request one. They will be your guide through absolutely everything, application forms, benefits ect, they will phone up anything for you and make sure you're entitled to everything you need, they can also help push applications along quicker.
When housing comes up (they will keep you waiting until the baby is born, then a home is offered pretty quickly), they will more than likely be entitled to a community care grant for help with setting up their home (up to £2000, but on average £800-£1500 for couch, carpets, furniture ect) and any money not granted for a fridge, washing machine and cooker ect, she will definitely get from a "white good starter pack", provided from the social. The kitchen appliances they give you as part of the pack are brand new and very high quality. The support worker will also help you gather together plates, curtains, cheap paint ect from donators. They may also get a decorating allowance for any rooms of the house which badly need decorated- about £64 per room.
At the moment they can claim income support, this would be the best benefit to entitle them to the community care grant, white good starter pack and the sure start maternity grant of £500.
Once the baby is born they will get tax credits, child benefit and income support.
The very first thing I'd do is go to the housing office and do what I mentioned above, then go the local job centre centre to claim income support.
Ignore the ignorance of anyone telling you that you are setting a bad example, they need all the help and support possible to help them get on their feet before they are able to support themselves!
They are only claiming what they are entitled to, to help them gain some stability first.
Hope this helps!

The 2nd option which relieves you and you're husband of any responsibility is to give all this information to your sons girlfriend and her parents and let her claim as a single/ lone parent from her parents home until the baby is born and the house is sorted. Then inform the social that you're son and his girlfriend are now living together. She will probably get more help claiming on her own whilst at the same time he could get a small job that wont effect her benefits.

Answer 4

Take her to the Health Deptartment for prenatal exams. They will either do them there or send her to a dr. in town. They will let her know every program she can possibly get on. Medacaid, WIC, and whatever assistance they will need. You might want to go with them so you also hear what they have to say. You know how well 16 yr. olds follow through.
Bring a pen and paper, it is a lot of information. I know, I am a mother of a girl who got pregnant at 17. I was basically in the same boat. She is now 24 with another child. I have the first one and she has the second one.
It is crazy where life leads you and what God hands you.

Good Luck and if you want to talk email me.

Answer 5

My friends daughter has a baby. she is only 17 my friend claims the baby cause the daughter dose not work. If you need help your son and his girlfriend can legally work mall, grocerie store, fast food....ect( just need to look) Its not a bad idea think about that one i started working at 15 as a cahsier. that will really be a big help for odds and ends. If they are living in your house claim them ALL. You and your husband are very good parents to be letting the girlfriend live with you< it shows that you really care for your son and soon to be grandchild. They are still childeren and still need rules. I honestly wish you the best for you and your hubsband Good luck.

Answer 6

Hi, if they are on benefits they can claim a maternity grant of £500.00 which doesnt have to be paid back. Your son g/f would need to contact DHSS and they will send a form which she will have to complete and have a health professional i.e health visitor, doctor, midwife etc sign and the payment should take around 14 days provided they dont have a backlog. You dont say if they are working but they may be entitled to maternity/paternity pay. They should also qualify for working tax credit or child tax credit. (they should contact the Inland revenue tax credit office) , They may qualify for milk tokens, free prescriptions etc. They should contact the local council/housing association as they may be able to get some sort of accommodation. Tell them to contact their local job centre/benefits office as they will be able to help them. the dept of works and pensions website offers good advice. Its http://www.dwp.gov.uk. I think its wonderful you are trying to help them and give them a roof over their heads. good luck

Answer 7

the best thing for you to do is to go to your local cabinet for families and childrens office and talk to someone there, they can give you all the information you need and the list of all the programs available for your son and this girlfriend. Although if they lived on their own they would be eligible for much more help than they will be by living with you, she needs to sign up on a WIC program, women, infants and children, and that will help to buy the babies milk and juice when it gets here and she can used it now to buy milk, and cereal, eggs and things like that for her to eat and keep her nourished. but you need to talk to someone where you are from about the programs available to them. and quickly, the sooner she gets on these programs the better for the baby and her. good luck

Answer 8

wow what a dilemma, there are benefits you can get but whilst they are living under your roof and under your care then they are almost entitled to nothing as you and hubby are supporting them ! the best way to find out is to go and make an appointment with a benifits advisor take them both with ya , no ***** footing around , and bring them into the world of stark reality they might realise the results of what they have done ! It's gonna be hard for you but also see the local council and letting agencies about a flat or something for them ! it's tough love and one i don't envy but having a close association with problems like that i feel that is the best route to take!

Answer 9

contact your local job centre for advice.......

my mum works full time and my dad stays at home. my brother who is 21 lives with them still, hes got learning difficulties so cant cope with the day to day running of a home. hes been through collage and now is looking for work and he claims job seekers allowance. so just contact them as they will be able to advise you of what your son can claim and what they can claim as a couple. as for the £500 that people keep on talking about its called sure start maternity grant and your son and partner can claim it in the last few weeks of pregnancy there are guide lines as to who can get it but if you don't apply you will never know the worst they can say is no. an adviser at the job centre will be able to help. is your son still at school if so I'm sure you can get extra help for him and if hes going onto higher education get him to apply for E.M.A. its an set amount of money each week to help with school expenses and there are bonuses for each term they complete I'm sure the job centre will be able to advise you of this too.

good luck and hope some of this helps. and congrats on becoming grandparents

Answer 10

Your health visitor should help. Basically they are entitilled to loads, rent, council tax, health care, baby milk etc, etc.. The question is of course whether they should recieve this at the expense of the tax payer? and how much responsibility the parents should take for underage chlidren (I would happyliy take all responsibil;ity for any great/ grandchildren. My gran is 94this week and I love her more than anything!