We have put together a list of useful links for new parents including maternity and paternity benefits and leave, support with travel, local advice centres and other government support advice.
You can also visit our general support page with information about support at George Eliot Hospital, the local community, health and wellbeing advice and useful links.
NHS Low Income Scheme | NHSBSA
NHS Low income scheme which helps people claim help with costs for transport and other related NHS things such as dental care and prescriptions if they are eligible
NHS Advice: Maternity and Paternity Benefits and Leave
Maternity Exemption Certificate FW8 Form: This entitles you to free prescriptions and dental care during your pregnancy and up to 1 year after the birth, your Midwife or GP will complete the FW8 form with you at the beginning of the pregnancy. For more information visit: Free prescriptions and NHS dental care in pregnancy | MoneyHelper
Healthy Start Vouchers: If you get Universal Credit, Child Tax Credit, income support, income based jobseekers allowance, pension credit or working tax credit you may be entitled to Healthy Start vouchers. You can claim the Healthy start vouchers from 10 weeks of your pregnancy to when your child is 4 years old, you will receive a Healthy start card where the vouchers will be added to for you to use to buy milk, fruit, vegetables, and pulses. For more information visit: How to apply – Get help to buy food and milk (Healthy Start)
Sure Start Maternity Grant: The Sure Start Maternity grant is a one off payment of £500 to help towards the cost of having your first child. You will need to complete the form and then ask your Midwife or GP to complete page 10. You then need to post it to ‘Freepost DWP SSMG’ You do not need a postcode or postage stamp. To find out if you qualify and to download the form visit: Sure Start Maternity Grant: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Statutory Maternity Pay: When you’re having a baby, you’re entitled to a year of Statutory Maternity Leave - no matter how long you’ve been in your job. But while you’re entitled to 52 weeks off work, you’ll only get maternity pay for 39 of them if you’re eligible. The earliest your paid maternity leave can start is the 11th week before your baby is due. If your baby is born early, your leave starts the day after the birth. You don’t have to take the 52 weeks you’re entitled to, but you must take at least two weeks off work following the birth. For more information about Statutory Maternity Leave and Pay visit: Maternity leave and pay | MoneyHelper
Maternity Allowance: Maternity Allowance is a benefit paid by the government to pregnant women who don’t qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay. For more information visit:Maternity Allowance | MoneyHelper
Paternity Leave and Pay: Statutory Paternity Leave is the time you can take off to support your partner. If you’re an employee, you’re entitled to either one or two weeks of paid paternity leave. For more information about Paternity Leave and pay visit: Paternity leave and pay | MoneyHelper
Child Benefit:Child Benefit is a regular payment from the government to help with the cost of raising a child. You can get the claim form from the following website: Claim Child Benefit for one or more children - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) for more information about Child Benefit visit: Child Benefit and the State Pension | MoneyHelper
Citizens Advice drop in sessions
WEDNESDAY (1st Wednesday of the month, term time only) - 9.00am-10.00am
Bedworth Heath Community Centre, Smorrall Lane, Bedworth CV12 0JN
WEDNESDAY (2nd & 4th Wednesday of the month) - 9.00am-12.00pm
Stockingford Library, St Pauls Road, Stockingford,
Nuneaton CV10 8HW
WEDNESDAY - 9.30am-12.30pm
Wembrook Community Centre, Donnithorne Avenue,
Nuneaton CV11 4QL
THURSDAY - 9.00am-3.30pm
CHESS Centre, 460 Cedar Road, Nuneaton CV10 9DN
THURSDAY - 9.00am-12.00pm
Camphill Early Years, 61 Holly STitches Road, Nuneaton CV10 9QA
THURSDAY (1st Thursday of the month) - 9.30am-12.00pm
Bulkington Community Library, School Road, Bedworth CV12 9DJ
THURSDAY - 9.30am-3.00pm (term time only)
The Pitstop, 7-8 Rathbone Close, Keresley End, Coventry CV7 8LD
FRIDAY - 9.00am-3.30pm
CHESS Centre, 460 Cedar Road, Nuneaton CV10 9DN
Government Financial support numbers
- Call 0300 330 1348 for the dental services helpline
- Call 0300 330 1343 for the Low Income Scheme helpline
- Call 0300 330 1341 for queries about medical exemption certificates
- Call 0300 330 1341 for queries about prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs)
- Call 0300 330 1349 for the prescription services helpline
- Call 0300 330 1347 for queries about tax credit certificates
- Call 0300 123 0849 to order a paper copy of the HC12, HC5 and HC1 (SC) forms
- Call 0300 330 1343 for all other queries
The Financial Inclusion Support Team from Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council are a the Hub, 1 Donnithorne Avenue, Nuneaton, CV10 7AF
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