Money and benefits

Having a family is expensive. To try and help, we have collected information about the most common forms of help available to families. The list is not exhaustive and if there is a specific benefit or grant that you would like to know about, please get in touch and we will try and get information about it.

Please visit the individual pages to find out more about the benefits and allowances below:

 

Time 2 Start (free childcare places for 2 year olds)

If your family is getting certain benefits or allowances and you have child that is 2, or will be 2 soon, they may get a free childcare place. Please visit the the 2 year old funding page to find out more.

 

Free early education places for 3 and 4 year olds

All 3 and 4 year olds are entitled to a free early education place the term after they turn 3. To find out more about getting a place, please visit the Free early years places for 3 and 4 year olds page.

 

Tax credits

There are 2 different types of Tax Credits. Child Tax Credit is paid to families on lower incomes who have children and Working Tax Credit is paid to people who are working, but are on a low wage. To find out if you maybe eligible for either, please visit the Tax Credits page.

 

Child Benefit

If you have a child under 16 (or under 20 if they are in approved education or training) then you maybe able to get Child Benefit. To find out more please visit the Government's website.

 

Childcare Vouchers

If you use registered childcare and work then you may be able to get vouchers towards the costs through your employer. Please visit the Childcare Vouchers and Salary Sacrifice page to see if it's for you.

 

Universal Credits

Universal Credits are gradually being introduced to replace 6 existing benefits and tax credits. They are being rolled out across Walsall from September 2015 and by 2017 the majority of claimants will be receiving this new credit. To find out if this affects you, please visit the Government's website.

 

Benefits and allowances

There are a varity or benefits and allowances that you may be able to access depending on your circumstances. These include Housing Benefit, Income Support and Jobseekers Allowance. To find out more about these please visit Benefits and Allowances page.

 

Help if your child has a special education need or disability

There can be extra costs involved when you have a child with a special educational need or disability. There are benefits and allowances to help towards these costs including Disability Living Allowance and Carer's Allowance. To find out more, please visit the Financial help for SEN/disabled children page.

 

Free school meals

If you have school age children and are claiming certain benefits then they may be entitled to free school meals. To see if your family may fit the criteria for free meals, please visit Walsall Council's website.

 

School transport

There is help for some families to get their children to and from school. Eligibility is based on the age of your child and the distance you live from school. You can view the policy on this by visiting Walsall Council's website.

 

Child maintenance

If you do not live with the other parent of your child, then they may have to pay you towards the costs of raising them. How much is based on individual circumstances. Please visit the Government's website for more details.

 

Other sources of help

Obviously the benefits and allowance mentioned on this page are not the only ones available. There are also grants that you may be able to claim for specific circumstances. To find out more about other financial help please visit the Turn 2 Us website. Walsall Council also operate a Welfare Rights Service that can offer advice. Please visit Walsall Council's website for details.

If you are experiencing debt or issues budgetting your money, please visit the Citizen's Advice Bureau's website or Walsall's Money Advice Project's website.