Tax credits and early years project
We want to contribute to a reduction in the number of families living in poverty in Scotland by maximizing the potential income available to them through the social security system. As the system moves from tax credits to universal credit over the next few years, our focus is on the families who rely on this vital support, with a particular emphasis on vulnerable families including:
- Low-paid and temporary workers with childcare needs
- Lone parents
- Young parents
- Families affected by disability or caring responsibilities
- Families affected by addiction, violence or imprisonment
The importance of getting the finances right in the early years cannot be underestimated. Growing up in poverty has a negative impact on children’s health, education and lifetime opportunities. Without an adequate income it is very hard for parents to provide for a child’s basic needs and participate fully in society. Information on benefits, grants, help with childcare costs and other entitlements can make a real difference and enable parents and early years workers to concentrate on the important job of parenting. More information can be found from the Maternal & Early Years website and Growing Up in Scotland study.
We aim to increase the capacity of front line agencies in health, education, childcare and the public or voluntary sector to provide accurate, high quality and effective information on financial support for families with children, from pregnancy to school years. We aim to achieve this through:
- Information - see our new Tax Credits Toolkit
- Training
- Factsheets
- Our monthly e-bulletins
- Our advice line
We are always looking to improve our services to meet your needs, so if there is information or training you would like us to provide for agencies working with families, please get in touch.
Early years and childcare services
If you work in early years or childcare services in Scotland, we are offering you FREE resources and support to promote take-up of benefits and tax credits, identify problems and make effective referrals. Find out more on our information page for early years and childcare services.
Training
We run a range of courses for workers of different levels of experience and knowledge.
Our half-day basic courses are for frontline workers who do not specialise in welfare rights but need to ensure their clients are not losing out financially. Some courses are at the special price for organisations in Scotland of £45 per person. We also provide these courses in-house for £250 in total for up to 20 people at your workplace or a venue which suits you.
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Childcare support for working families £45
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Benefits for disabled children from age 16 £45
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Income maximisation for families £45
Tax credits and early years factsheets
We have produced factsheets on a range of topics, concentrating particularly on problem areas of tax credits. You can view and print all our factsheets below. To request printed copies if available, email jblyth@cpagscotland.org.uk with your contact details and which titles you would like.
- Financial help in the early years (January 2019)
- Tax credits - moving on to universal credit (May 2018)
- Childcare, tax credits and other help (May 2018)
- Financial help for families fleeing domestic abuse (April 2018)
- Financial help for young parents (January 2018)
- Financial help for families affected by imprisonment (September 2018)
- Tax credits – the basics (June 2018)
- Tax credit overpayments (June 2018)
- Tax credits update (June 2018)
- Tax credits and complaints (June 2018)
- Tax credits annual review (June 2018)
- Tax credit checks (June 2018)
- Lone parents and tax credits (June 2018)
- Tax credits and self-employment (June 2018)
- Tax credits – challenging decisions (June 2018)
- Tax credits and judicial review (June 2018)
- Tax credits – reporting changes (June 2018)
- Tax credits and penalties (June 2018)
- Tax credits for disabled workers (June 2018)
- Tax credits and foster carers (June 2018)
- Tax credits and going back to work (June 2018)
- Tax credits and flexible working (June 2018)
- Tax credits for people from abroad (June 2018)
See also Students and tax credits from our Benefits for students project.
Tax credits and early years ebulletin
Our monthly tax credits and early years ebulletin keeps you up to date with the latest news and developments. You can read recent editions by following the links below, or sign up to the ebulletin here.
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- May - June 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- Past ebulletins
Advice line for advisers in Scotland
We offer advice and information to advisers in Scotland on all aspects of the welfare benefits and tax credits systems through our advice line.
For further information please contact:
Mark Willis
Tel: 0141 552 3722
mwillis@cpagscotland.org.uk
This project is funded by the Scottish Government.