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5. Support for parents-to-be and parents
[ch 5: page 59]What’s new?
• New “two-child policy” limiting support through Universal Credit and child tax credits to two children for new claims and new births. From 6 April 2017, the child element of tax credits will only be paid for the first two children. Any subsequent children born on or after 6 April 2017 will not be eligible for further support
• Removal of the family element in tax credits, as well as the corresponding first child premium in Universal Credit
• From September 2017, free childcare will be doubled from 15 to 30 hours a week for working parents of three- and four-year-olds
• Tax-Free Childcare, a new government scheme to help working parents with the cost of childcare, will be launched on 28 April 2017 with all eligible parents able to join the scheme by the end of 2017
Benefits available to help parents and guardians raise their children include:
• Statutory Maternity Leave and Pay (see pages 60-61)
• Maternity Allowance (see page 62-63);
• Sure Start Maternity Grant (see page 63);
• Shared Parental Leave and Pay (see page 63-65);
• Statutory Paternity Leave and Pay (see page 66);
• Statutory Adoption Leave and Pay and Surrogacy Leave (see page 66);
• Child Benefit (see page 68); and
• Guardian’s Allowance (see pages 69).
There is also a system of Child Tax Credits which can provide further support (see pages 69-70).
More information can be found in the LRD booklet Leave and pay for working parents — A guide for trade union reps (www.lrdpublications.org.uk/publications.php?pub=BK&iss=1741).