''£500 sure start maternity grant''

[littleblonde]

It said from april next year rather then a having upto 3 months we will only have 1 month eeek. Its being made very hard. Im a bit worried about how it will effect us. My baby elements stops in march anyway. I guess even if i do drop in april i will go up agagin in june.

 

[nugget80]

looks like i'll miss out on this one as well...! i didn't claim this with my older 2 children as it was not around and if they change it to only claiming with first baby then i'll not be able to claim this time round either...!

 

[littleblonde]

looks like i'll miss out on this one as well...! i didn't claim this with my older 2 children as it was not around and if they change it to only claiming with first baby then i'll not be able to claim this time round either...!

I didnt claime with my 1st either. And we will both miss out by a matter of days

 

[wild2011]

ive got the midwife this week, will double check what that cut date was, she did tell me a while back but ive got baby brain, with a bit of luck u might scrape in to the cut off period. xx

 

[littleblonde]

Thanks. That would be helpful.will watch for an update

 

[wild2011]

im supposed to be seeing her Thursday afternoon, though possibly before as not well and she may do homevisit. xx

 

[littleblonde]

sorry your not well. Hope you feel better quick

 

[Claudiam2321]

I asked about it today at the jobcentre ..I can't claim as I'm on contribution jsa and my bf earns too much.

The woman basically said in jobcentre people who do work/ have worked don't get f*** all which really winds me up!!

Couldnt agree more, i paid tons in tax over hte years and i get shite all too, they should stop it for everyone if they are stopping it for some!

I know it's ridiculous!! Makes me livid .. Just because you HAVE worked doesnt mean that money's NOT tight.

I could rant on for days .. Government is on it's arse!

 

[debbiej142]

A complete answer on the Sure Start Maternity Grant debate re cut off dates.

https://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyT...ort/Expectingorbringingupchildren/DG_10018854

Any baby due or born after the 11th April with other children in the house under 16 will not qualify for the grant under the new rules.

Hope this helps

 

[FierceAngel]

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.

thats only true if you only get the very min basic tax credits
I got mine with luisa once she was born as our tax credits were more than the basic element. We didnt get any other benefits.


so it looks like unless you were 29 weeks yesterday you cant get it is that right?

x

 

[debbiej142]

That's right. Yesterday was the cut off date.

Hope this clarifys things for everyone

 

[wild2011]

A complete answer on the Sure Start Maternity Grant debate re cut off dates.

https://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyT...ort/Expectingorbringingupchildren/DG_10018854

Any baby due or born after the 11th April with other children in the house under 16 will not qualify for the grant under the new rules.

Hope this helps

the date of 11th is correct, but aslong as you are 29 weeks before then u qualify . my mw phoned and clarified it for me today, got nothing to do with if due before or born after aslong as ur 29 weeks prior to 11th. xx

 

[beauty]

I asked about it today at the jobcentre ..I can't claim as I'm on contribution jsa and my bf earns too much.

The woman basically said in jobcentre people who do work/ have worked don't get f*** all which really winds me up!!

Couldnt agree more, i paid tons in tax over hte years and i get shite all too, they should stop it for everyone if they are stopping it for some!

I know it's ridiculous!! Makes me livid .. Just because you HAVE worked doesnt mean that money's NOT tight.

I could rant on for days .. Government is on it's arse!

I agree, we both work and missed out on the other grant of £190 and we wont get this grant either!! Like you say could do with the money i mean after you pay everything etc you could sure have a nice £500 grant thats for sure, would help me and my partner loads (as it would us all)
x

 

[debbiej142]

Afraid that's not quit right. The cut off date was yesterday when you had to be 29wks. The transitional period for the benefit change started yesterday and new forms are available to download as from yesterday.

Your baby has to be due or be born before the 11th April 2011 to qualify for the grant- not when your 29 wks falls. I work to the DWP and have spoken to a collegue at social fund this morning re this new legislation. Guidlines have only been issued in the last couple of days to staff who proccess this benefit. Midwifes cannot access the department directly and the only way to contact them is via the Social fund enquiry line where they will email the dept and arrange a call back for any queries re this grant.

The number to call if anyone needs this is 0845 608 85 67. They will not be able to answer your question on this number but can email the sure start dept who will call you back within 4hrs approx x

 

[msflowerfairy]

I know this makes me so angry!
What makes the government think that those that work are better off than those on benefits?
I think those that work are even more entitled to the grant, considering the amount in tax that we pay!!
We are not entitled to council tax benefit, working tax credits, etc. It's about time those that work were given a break too!!

Unless you have been made redundant, or struggling as a single mother through no fault of your own, there really is no excuse these days to be claiming off the state, therefore the grant should be made available to all pregnant ladies.

I'm going to go now before i blow a gasket LOL!

 

[wild2011]

thanks Debbie, i have now contacted my mw to tell her to stop informing everyone as she did me, this is gonna cause lots of upheavel im sure, as weve all been informed we only had to be 29 weeks by the 11th x

 

[miss cakes]

i could cry i better start looking for some bargains now i so dont have the time or money to muck about urgh so frustrating! x

 

[debbiej142]

No problems. There has been a huge amount of speculation on cut off dates and when the 29thwk falls but if anyone is in any doubt then I would call the social fund line for an answer. The new dates of 11th April was only published yesterday and as said before the new forms are now available to download on line x

 

[Ozzieshunni]

I'm reading the application now and it says you are eligible if you or a spouse/partner gets working tax credits! I'm glad I decided to look at the application anyways!

 

[Mrmojo1971]

I'm reading the application now and it says you are eligible if you or a spouse/partner gets working tax credits! I'm glad I decided to look at the application anyways!

In most places it seems to say Working Tax Credit where a disability or severe disability element is included in the award - not sure where you'd check for definite though as the staff don't seem to know what day of the week it is !