According to consumer group Which?, the average weekly cost of school meals will rise by 2.5 percent to £12.50 this year – with families in some parts of the country facing increases of up to 25 percent. As any parent will tell you, however, the rising cost of school meals is just the tip of a very large parenting iceberg.
Childcare, clothes, shoes, toys, entertainment, school trips, visits to the dentist and many more can all weigh heavily on family finances. In fact, according to a study by insurers LV=, the average cost of raising a child until their 21st birthday is now £210,000 – equivalent to £10,040 a year, or £836 a month.
It is no wonder that debt charity Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) says the high financial price tag attached to having children can push many households into difficulty. The charity warns that the extra costs of being a parent, together with the continued squeeze on household budgets more generally, means that it is essential that parents are aware of the various kinds of help that are available.
So, what help is available for families struggling to make ends meet?
Free nursery education
All three and four year olds are entitled to 15 hours of free nursery education (in a nursery, playgroup, pre-school or childminding service) a week for 38 weeks each year.
For more information, contact your local Family Information Service
Child Tax Credit
You may qualify for Child Tax Credit if you have a new baby or are responsible for any child under the age of 16 (or 20 if they are in full-time education or training). If you are a mother and go back to work for at least 16 hours a week after having your child, you may also be eligible for Working Tax Credit. To apply, you need to contact HMRC’s Tax Credit Helpline on 0845 300 3900, having your National Insurance number and details of your income from employment and any benefits in the last year to hand.
Child Benefit
You can claim Child Benefit for each of your children until they reach the age of 16, as long as you are the person paying towards their upkeep. Current child benefit rates are £20.30 for your eldest child and £13.40 a week for each of your other children, and this can be paid directly into your bank account using Direct Payments. You can apply for the benefit using the form given to new mothers in hospital (also available from the HMRC website).
Free school meals/transport
Your child could qualify for free school meals and/or transport if you receive an income-based benefit (such as Income Support) or Child Tax Credit – but the rules vary based on where in the UK you live.
For more information, contact your local council or ask your child’s school for the best person to speak to.
Other benefits
There are several other benefits you may qualify for if you are a parent (or guardian) depending on your circumstances, including help with health costs, the Healthy Start scheme and the Sure Start Maternity Grant. For more information on any of these, visit the Directgov website
Being a parent is far from easy at the best of times, and financial problems caused by the high costs of bringing up children can place a difficult burden on family life. This is why it is vital to ensure you are receiving all the support to which you are entitled.
It is also important to remember that if you are struggling to cope financially, or if you have fallen behind with credit cards, personal loans or other debt repayments, free help and support is available. If you are falling behind, the best step you can take is to contact a free debt charity such as CCCS, Citizens Advice or National Debtline as early as possible.
With thanks to Matt Hartley, CCCS
CCCS can be contacted via its freephone helpline, 0800 138 1111 (open Monday to Friday 8am – 8pm. You can also seek advice via CCCS Debt Remedy, an anonymous online debt counselling tool available at www.cccs.co.uk