Family routes
England wants 10,000 new foster places: who can apply and what carers are paid
On 13 October the government launched the first national foster carer recruitment campaign in England, backed by £88 million. Here are the rules, the £176-£309 weekly allowance and the £20,440 tax-free threshold.
Marriage notice in England: 29 days, 7 days in the district and 70 if the Home Office investigates
To marry in England or Wales you first give notice at a register office. GOV.UK asks for at least 29 days before the ceremony, the law sets a 28-day waiting period, and for couples subject to immigration control it can stretch to 70. Here are the timings, documents and fees.
Baby sleeping bags: UK regulator warns about bags with no arm holes or with a hood
On 1 October 2026 the UK's OPSS issued safety alert PSA9: baby sleeping bags used for unsupervised sleep are dangerous if they have no arm holes or include a hood. The risks are suffocation and overheating. Nearly 50 recalls have been published since 2023. What to check at home and how to get your money back.
Maternity leave and pay in the UK: 52 weeks off, £194.32 a week and what to do if your employer says no
Up to 52 weeks of leave but only 39 weeks of pay, most of it a flat £194.32 a week before tax. Who qualifies for SMP, what Maternity Allowance is, the one date that decides everything (15 weeks before the birth), what fathers get, and how to claim £500 and free prescriptions.
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Under-16 social media ban from spring 2027: UK hires 1,000 youth workers and puts £450m into teenagers
On 26 September the government announced 1,000 new youth workers and a £450m fund for clubs and activities — and confirmed the timetable for the under-16 social media ban: regulations before the end of the year, launch in spring 2027. Here is what it means for families, and what 18-to-24-year-olds can already claim.
Free childcare in England in 2026: 30 hours from nine months, the income tests and the 31 December deadline
To have the hours start on 1 January you need the code by 31 December. Here are the three schemes, the £2,643.68 three-month earnings test and the £100,000 ceiling, the National Insurance and no recourse to public funds rules — and the separate 15-hour route for families with no access to public funds.
Child Benefit: £27.05 a week per child — and why you should claim even if you have to pay it all back
Child Benefit is paid regardless of income: £27.05 a week for the eldest child and £17.90 for each additional one — £1,406 and £2,337 a year for one and two children. But the money is not the point: the claim automatically credits one parent with National Insurance towards the state pension until the child turns twelve, even if they opted out of payments. One warning: under a no recourse to public funds condition you must not claim.