 
If you are looking for information, advice or support regarding money matters you may find the following links useful:
Some of these are local organisations, others provide a national service
Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS)
Does the amount of credit you have worry you?
Are you feeling anxious about what may happen?
The Consumer Credit Counselling Service is a registered charity whose purpose is to assist people who are in financial difficulty by providing free, independent, impartial and realistic advice.
Click here to view http://www.cccs.co.uk
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Credit Action
This is a national money education charity, formed to help people better manage their money
It offers a range of resources including debt advice guides and budget sheets, which can be downloaded from its website
They work in partnership with the Consumer Credit Counselling Service
Click here to view the Credit Action website
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Sure Start Maternity Grant
Coping with the extra costs of a new baby can be difficult. There’s a grant to help you give your baby a positive start in life. It’s called the Sure Start Maternity Grant
The grant is made from the Social Fund and you do not have to pay it back
Who can get the grant?
You can get a Sure Start Maternity Grant if you or your partner are getting:
- Income Support
- Income based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit which includes an amount higher than the family element
- Working Tax Credit where a disability or severe disability element is included in the award
How do I claim?
You can claim a Sure Start Maternity Grant on form SF100. You can get the form from the News & Downloads area of our site, click here. The form comes with notes that will help you fill it in and tell you where to send it
If you have a partner, either of you can fill in the claim form, but make sure you include the name of the baby’s mother.
You can claim a Sure Start Maternity Grant at any time from the 29th week of your pregnancy until your child is three months old
If you are adopting a baby, you must claim the grant within three months of the adoption and the baby should be no more than 12 months old when you claim.
If you or you or your partner have been granted a parental order for a surrogate birth, you must claim within three months of the date of the parental order
Click here to view Department for Work & Pensions-Maternity Grant LINK
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Tax Credit payments for families with children
9 out of 10 families with children are entitled to tax credits. You can be given Child Tax Credit in the form of payments from the government regardless of whether you are working or not
Child Tax Credit is paid direct to the person who is mainly responsible for caring for the child or children. If you are a lone parent you will receive the payment
Working Tax Credit is for people who are employed or self-employed (either on their own or in a partnership), who usually work 16 hours or more a week, who are paid for that work, and who expect to work for at least 4 weeks
For more information either select the following web site link or call the Helpline on 0845 300 3900 (textphone 0845 300 3909 )
Click here to view http://www.taxcredits.inlandrevenue.gov.uk
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