Baby benefits

I'm recently married and have bought a flat with my husband. We earn enough to get by, but not a huge amount. We want to have a baby next year but we're wondering what benefits we can get to help us afford to run our home while I'm off work. And if we do get benefits, will they run alongside my maternity pay or will they start after it finishes?

There is only one benefit that you are guaranteed to get when the baby is born and that is Child Benefit -  £20.00 a week for the eldest child and £12.55 a week for each additional child.

You will probably also be entitled to Child Tax Credit and you might also be entitled to Working Tax Credit - indeed you could be entitled to it now.

You can find out more from The Working Tax Credit/Child Tax Credit Helpline, open from 8am-8pm seven days a week on 0845 300 3900 (textphone 0845 300 3909 ). Or, in Northern Ireland: 0845 603 2000 (textphone 0845 607 6078). You can also contact them by post or visit a Revenue and Customs Enquiry Centre.

You will not be entitled to any help with housing costs, as you own your flat, but you might be entitled to some help with Council Tax. This will be dependent on your total household income.

You might want to contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) and ask for a full benefits check. They will need to know details of both your incomes and any savings you have over £3,000.

Updated: 22/01/2009

Question answered by CAB