Help for families

Financial support

Council tax and housing benefit

Even if you have never been entitled to or claimed any benefits before, it may be worth finding out what you are entitled to - especially if your circumstances have changed recently.

There are two ways we may be able to help you: council tax and housing benefit. We will need to see evidence of your income or savings and you will need to tell us who lives with you before your claim can be assessed.

Council tax benefit: you can claim this if you are on a low income and have to pay council tax – any benefit you receive helps to reduce your monthly council tax payments.

Housing benefit: This is help towards the rent you pay for your home. If you qualify for this benefit, we will either pay you or your landlord direct.

The amount of benefits you are awarded will depend on your income and who lives with you. You do not qualify for either council tax or housing benefit if you have savings of more than £16,000.

In the last 12 months over 16,000 families in Warrington have qualified for help towards their rent or council tax. You have nothing to lose by finding out if you qualify for help too.

How to claim - Contact your benefit take up officer, Mike Andrews, on 442336 to find out more. You can also collect a claim form by calling in at Contact Warrington, Horsemarket Street. 

Council tax: Pay by direct debit and spread your payments over 12 months
Did you know that if you pay your council tax by direct debit, you can spread your payments over 12 months rather than the usual ten months?

Direct debit is a simple, safe and convenient method of payment with a choice of payment dates. Join the 55,000 council tax payers in Warrington who choose this method of payment. For more information call us on 443210 or sign up online. 

Are you struggling to pay your council tax?
If you are experiencing genuine financial difficulty paying your council tax, we may be able to help by advising you about any discounts, benefits and exemptions that you may be entitled to. Don't wait for a reminder letter as recovery proceedings are costly if you do not pay on time.  If you are struggling to pay your council tax, call us now on 443210.

Childcare support

Paying for childcare and raising a family can be expensive. Depending on your circumstances, you may quality for financial help. The families information service can offer free advice and more detailed information on finding and paying for childcare contact them on 443131.

Free school meals: Pupils in full time education who are under the age of 19 and attending school may be entitled to free school meals in certain cases, for example if their parents receive income support or income based job seekers allowance. Call us on 442938 to find out if your children qualify.

Pupil/student travel: Students who are in full time education and are under 19 at the beginning of the academic year may be entitled to assisted/concessionary travel. Call 443117 to find out more.

Working tax credit and child tax credit: Nine out of ten families are eligible to claim support towards bringing up their families. Tax credits are income related but also take into account the number of children you have and the cost of childcare. Families with a household income of up to £58,000 can receive child tax credits whether they are working or not. Families with a child under a year old and a household income of £66,000 can receive child tax credits whether they are working or not.

Find out if your family qualify for tax credits by calling Job Centre Plus on 01244 356188, the Citizens Advice Bureau on 01925 246994, the Tax Credit Helpline on 0845 300 3900 or log on to the website. 

Childcare vouchers: About one in ten employers offer some kind of assistance for their employees who have children, such as childcare allowances, subsidised childcare services or flexible working hours or childcare vouchers as a means of paying for childcare. The first £55 per week supplied by childcare vouchers is exempt from tax and National Insurance contributions, so they help you save money. A lower level taxpayer could save more than £962 per year and someone who pays 40% tax could save over £1,000 per year. The vouchers are usually offered through a 'salary sacrifice' scheme so can affect your overall financial position and therefore the amount of your working tax credit. Childcare vouchers must also be deducted from the childcare element of working tax credit. Pensions, maternity, sick pay, overtime and incapacity benefits may also be affected by salary sacrifice schemes.

Sure Start maternity grant: A Sure Start maternity grant is a one off payment to help with the cost of having a new baby. If you or your partner receive a low income benefit or tax credit, you may qualify for this grant. Call 01244 356188 or collect a claim form from your local Job Centre Plus.

Child Trust Fund: The Child Trust Fund (CTF) is a long term savings and investment account for children. The government has introduced the CTF to ensure your child has savings at the age of 18 and help children get into the habit of saving. The government sends out the £250 vouchers automatically for parents to invest in their child’s name until they reach 18 when they can use the money as they think best.

Early years education: All three and four year olds are entitled to twelve and a half hours of free early years education a week, for 38 weeks a year, with a 'registered provider' such as school, nursery or playgroup, regardless of income or circumstances. For more information call the families information service on 443131 or email fis@warrington.gov.uk.  

Last updated 13/05/2010 17:33:03

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