Financial help for families

More than £15 billion goes unclaimed in money people are entitled to across the UK each year.

This is because not everyone knows all the benefits they are entitled to.

Use the tool below to see if you’re getting everything you could be owed under the current Government rules in less than 10 minutes.

Maximise your income using Citizens Advice Wokingham income tool.

Different support options

If you want to know about a specific type of support for families – check the list below.

Time off and pay when you have or adopt a child

• Maternity pay and leave - paid leave and support
• Maternity Allowance - payment you can get when you take time off to have a baby
• Sure Start Maternity Grant - £500 to help towards the costs of having a child
• Paternity pay and leave - taking time off because your partner’s having a baby
• Shared Parental Leave and Pay - how to share the pay and leave in the first year after your child is born or placed with your family
• Adoption pay and leave - support when you take time off to adopt a child or have a child through a surrogacy arrangement
• Unpaid parental leave - the right to take unpaid parental leave to look after their child’s welfare

Child Benefit

• Child Benefit - financial support if you're responsible for bringing up a child
• Child Benefit when your child turns 16 - keeping financial support going after your child's 16th birthday if they stay in education or training
• Child Benefit tax calculator - estimate how much money you get from Child Benefit in a tax year
• High Income Child Benefit Charge - you may have to pay if you or your partner have an individual income that’s more than £60,000

Support for separated families

• Child Maintenance Service - payments when one of a child's parents does not live with the child

Support for disabled children

• Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children - help with extra costs if a child has difficulties walking or needs much more looking after than a child of the same age who does not have a disability
• Help if you have a disabled child - local council support with short breaks, holiday play, care at home and some financial support
• Disabled Facilities Grants - get a grant if you’re disabled and need to make changes to your home