''£500 sure start maternity grant''

[Yazz_n_bump]

Thanks for this information, I heard that it was being reduced to £250, although hadnt started to look into properly yet. from some of the things said i would have to apply for it before April 1st, as this is my 2nd baby, (I'll have less than 11 weeks to go).

The healthy start grant is no longer available I dont think??? My MW was saying you had to be 25 (or was it 26?) weeks before jan 1st 2011 to qualify for it. So if you're due After April you wont qualify, if she was right of course!

For the HIP grant you had to be 24+1 or onwards days on the 1st January otherwise you couldn't claim.

 

[SamiraNChris]

Sorry just writing on this so i can come back to it later to read it properly! havent got time now xx

 

[Groovychick]

Thank you!

 

[BexyD]

just to let you all know I phoned the grant place up on tueday and the guy told me that no changes have been made its all heresay and nothing has been passed. so as long as you meet the criteria you should get it regardless of how many children you have got

Thank goodness for that!! I was beginning to panic as Id searched all over the web, but found nothing to confirm all the rumours. That money would really come in handy as we get more than the family element tax cred due to my daughters disability. Which also means I cant work as I'm her carer and need to be available for her appointments.

 

[dan-o]

So, at present were not entitled to claim it but once baby is here we should qualify for tax credits, does this mean we can apply for this once we get these benefits sorted after the birth?? xx

Exactly the same thing applies to us, we can't claim any benefits at all right now, but after the babys born we will be entitled to a little bit of tax credit.

I presume that means we can apply for the grant one I start the tax credit claim x

 

[BexyD]

So, at present were not entitled to claim it but once baby is here we should qualify for tax credits, does this mean we can apply for this once we get these benefits sorted after the birth?? xx

Exactly the same thing applies to us, we can't claim any benefits at all right now, but after the babys born we will be entitled to a little bit of tax credit.

I presume that means we can apply for the grant one I start the tax credit claim x

I might be wrong, but as far as i know, you need to be claiming more than the family element - ie a disability element on top. I'm not sure if the baby element counts, or even if it still exists. Thats another thing id like to know

 

[kelzyboo]

I get the disability element with tax credits for my daughter (she's Autistic), i really hope i can claim as i am also a stay at home mummy, i'm her carer.

It will be a huge weight off my mind if i am able to as my daughter is 5years old and i didn't keep any of her baby things (diificult pregnancy, didn't think i could have anymore!) There's so much conflicting advice at the moment but i haven't actually seen anything official about these so-called changes like from the government so i am hoping! xx

 

[BexyD]

I get the disability element with tax credits for my daughter (she's Autistic), i really hope i can claim as i am also a stay at home mummy, i'm her carer.

It will be a huge weight off my mind if i am able to as my daughter is 5years old and i didn't keep any of her baby things (diificult pregnancy, didn't think i could have anymore!) There's so much conflicting advice at the moment but i haven't actually seen anything official about these so-called changes like from the government so i am hoping! xx

you are in a similar position to me, fingers x'd for you too. i keep checking the actual Direct.gov website and it doesnt mention any chance so I'm hoping its just scaremongering.

 

[lindseymw]

https://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/Budget/Budget2010/DG_188501

Found this on the website. Its info on tax credits. It does state SSMG will be for 1st child only, but doesnt mention from when.

 

[jjbump]

The grant is only available to those on benefits. People on the normal tax credits won't be eligible I'm afraid. Already checked this out myself with the job centre - the criteria has always been the same.

 

[wild2011]

post deleted.

 

[lkkha]

The grant is only available to those on benefits. People on the normal tax credits won't be eligible I'm afraid. Already checked this out myself with the job centre - the criteria has always been the same.

You can get it if you are on normal tax credits. You have to get a rate higher than the family element, which is about £545 a year, so if you get roughly over £10 ish a week of child tax credit then you are entitled to it. I got it for my last 3 children & we are not on any benefits, we do get child tax credit though. However from April it is being changed so that you will only get it for your first child, this was announced in the budget last June. So if this isn't your 1st baby & you are 29 weeks in April or later you won't be entitled.

Also, a lot of first time parents aren't eligible to claim before their baby is born as they aren't claiming tax credits but you have up to 3 months after the baby is born to claim so get your claim in quickly & you may be entitled then.

Edit: I have just looked on my award notice for last year & the basic family element is £547.50, then on top of this you have child tax credit element, which is £2,300 per child, this is then reduced depending on how much you earn, so say someone with 3 children would have a child tax credit element of £6,900, but if they earned £20,000 a year they would recieve a higher percentage of the £6,900 than someone who earned £30,000 a year who also had 3 children. So the person earning £30,000 may only receieve the family element (547.50) as their earnings may reduce the £6,900 to nothing, these aren't exact figures, just an idea of the way they work it out. So if you look at your tax credit award notice, at the end of 'Part 2' there is a sum showing the 'basic' family element of £547.50, then the Total child tax credit elements, then the reduction due to your income, then under this the total amount payable for the year, if this amount is more than £547.50 then you will be entitled to the maternity grant. But only if you reach 29 weeks before April x

 

[Lauraaraa]

i got my matb1 form from midwife on wed and it tell you bout it on the back, says after april 1st can claim within 3months of babys birth, but can claim before birth if on certain benefits, i am not on any benefits so will have to wait til after she is born to claim it.
i am going to get all th forms ready though so i can just send them off as soon as she is born!
i defo am going to claim it as will not be able to afford anything really otherwise.
not good.
not sure how they expect normal ppl on a normal wage to cope without grants like this etc

 

[BexyD]

Does anyone know what the cut off date in April is? I'll be 29 weeks on 21st April, so if cut off date is 1st of April we just miss out and if its 30th april, we just get in..

 

[Delle]

Just to clear up a few things, as some woman wasn't sure whether the £500 grant was going to be stopping. I have been searching the internet and came across some really useful information.
And just to let you all know the £500 grant doesn't stop! In April 2011 the rules for the sure start maternity grant is changing to one application only. This basically means that you will only be able to apply for it once regardless of how many children u have.
Hope this has helped a few ladies that was unsure about this like i was.

i had a baby last february and got the maternity grant i am now pregnant with my second child (only by a few weeks) does that mean i will not be able to get it this time?thanks x

 

[wild2011]

Just to clear up a few things, as some woman wasn't sure whether the £500 grant was going to be stopping. I have been searching the internet and came across some really useful information.
And just to let you all know the £500 grant doesn't stop! In April 2011 the rules for the sure start maternity grant is changing to one application only. This basically means that you will only be able to apply for it once regardless of how many children u have.
Hope this has helped a few ladies that was unsure about this like i was.

i had a baby last february and got the maternity grant i am now pregnant with my second child (only by a few weeks) does that mean i will not be able to get it this time?thanks x

if your not further ahead than 29 weeks in april then no you will not get it, im not sure what the cut off date was its i think either 29 weeks by 1st 11th and 14th ( they are the 3 ive heard mentioned) goodness knows lol

but deffo not if your not 29 weeks by then unless its ur first

 

[littleblonde]

it says on the 2010 budget on the job centrewebsite that it is changing to 1st children only but no date as yet. i will be 29 weeks on the 6th april. grrrrr

 

[littleblonde]

https://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/Budget/Budget2010/DG_188501

 

[strawberry19]

just read through that... ouch some people are gonna have quite a lot cut :/ looks like people thinking theyl get the sure start grant after birth will have a lower chance too baby element is going in april 2011, glad i wont be putting in claims until after baby is born so it wont effect us we will still be able to claim a little bit after, instead of claiming and then being cut short

 

[Ozzieshunni]

WHAT SUCKS is I'm over in Scotland on a marriage visa and not entitled to public funds. So, even though I'm not working and OH is supporting us entirely and we are BARELY getting by, I'm not entitled to income support THEREFORE not entitled to apply for the maternity grant when it could help us out A LOT! It's stupid. Very very stupid!