5. Support for parents-to-be and parents
[ch 5: page 54]Benefits available to help parents and guardians raise their children include:
• Statutory Maternity Leave and Pay (see pages 54-56)
• Maternity Allowance (see pages 56-57);
• Sure Start Maternity Grant (see pages 57);
• Shared Parental Leave and Pay (see pages 58-59);
• Statutory Paternity Leave and Pay (see page 60);
• Statutory Adoption Leave and Pay and Surrogacy Leave (see page 61);
• Child Benefit (see page 62); and
• Guardian’s Allowance (see page 62).
There is also a system of Child Tax Credits which can provide further support (see pages 62-64).