Hi... .... I wonder if any one can help me? I have recently had a baby and have been sorting out tax credits and housing benefit, however I seem to be a bit confused. I received my tax award letter based on last year income, and i have now informed them that i will not be getting that amount this year due to smp pay. They have readjusted it, and my tax credits have gone up...however they have included backdated amounts in the future payments i.e tax credits from July to April in future payment. I applied for housing benefit to start from the end of October when i moved to my new place. However with the new adjustment i will need to inform them of the income i am getting in i.e the new tax credit figure. But this seems a bit unfair that my housing benefit is going to be reduced when the tax credit figure included 3 months of backdated money? Do i have to declare the backdated figure as this money should have been paid before i had even applied for housing benefit?? Hopefully i have explained it so that you can understand? Its all a bit confusing! Thanks

Thank you so much for your reply! I spoke to job centre on Thurs regarding community care grant and was informed that i can claim income support, and made a claim that day. This was because i am only getting SMP and therefore my income is not high enough. I informed them that i have put in a claim for working tax and child tax and they said that was fine... now this is where i get confused!! I would think that they would cancel each other out, however it does seem to look that i can claim working tax credit for 26 weeks as im on mat leave and it wouldnt affect the income support etc... ...Also if i claim WTC and CTC my housing benefit goes down, however on income support it is then paid!! It would be great if there was a loop hole that let me get that as its like im being punished for having a baby especially as i have always worked full time but i doubt it!! Sorry if i am babbling im just so confused, there is all this information but trying to get it together is a headache!! I just dont want to be overpaid and then they claim it back etc! Thanks again!

I get £123 per week for SMP, and at the moment i only get child benefit! I was told that i wasnt entitled to anything else but have just found out that i can get child tax benefit but im note sure whether or not i can get this with income support and working tax?

Hi, I wonder if any one can help me! My life has changed dramatically over the last year and trying to find out what I am entitled too has so far been a nightmare!!! Brief description about me and the situation: I was kicked out of my house by a family member when I was pregnant, and went to stay with my dad temporary! I will be moving to a new place at the end of this month through help from the homeless (Deposit scheme) and will be claiming housing benefit! I was advised by CAB that I was not entitled to any thing other then child benefit and housing benefit! I have now found out I am entitled to working tax credit, child tax and income support??? But im not sure if this is correct! And if so how it will affect the housing benefit!! There is too much info, and I don’t seem to be able to complete one form that gives all the answers!! So please if any one can help that would be great! Additional info: I was working as an account assistant full time (40 hours) and I started my maternity leave on the first of June, and my baby was born in July. I now only get statuary maternity pay and child benefit! As I said my life has totally changed and I have always worked prior to this and I just want to get things back on track! Sorry for the extremely long post! But im at my wits end trying to get some help!! Thanks in advance!! Also... i am now a single mother but do intend to return to work at the end of my maternity