Does anyone agree with me that the HIP grant is all wrong?

[Saywhat]

And glad that its getting scrapped??

I dunno if its just me being hormonal but i just get a bit ratty when i read all these posts about spending a "health" grant (that is basically a load of balls) on things like prams and clothes?? Surely when we have a baby we have to budget for these costs?? (and yes i do understand the need for genuine benefits - i just don't think this is one of them)

I have sent mine off too but i can't get over thinking what a stupid waste of money it is from the government. I've known people who have spent it on a night out and a pair of shoes. REAL healthy! I dunno, why isn't it means tested? Why on earth does a person who is minted get given that form???? WHY?! Hmmmm its killing my moral compass!

 

[happyandy]

We don't have anything like that here in the states. If you are eligible for benefits here, it's because you've met a low-income threshold. I get frustrated because I could use some free formula, groceries, etc, too, but I make way too much money to ever be approved for it. :-/

 

[ChubbyCheeks]

Any help for pregnant women is welcome so no i dont agree with you

 

[rainbows_x]

I don't claim any benefits & don't work. My OH does work.
I used the money to buy her some dummies, a rocker etc.

Some babies aren't planned so saying they should have a budget already isn't really very fair.
x

 

[happyandy]

Any help for pregnant women is welcome so no i dont agree with you

I think she's saying the opposite - that she doesn't like it when pregnant women blow the grant on something completely not baby-related, like shopping or dining out. And in that regard, I'd have to agree with her.

 

[vaniilla]

I agree that it should be with a threshold as some people need it and some don't, yes I completely agree with you that a baby is something you budget for and I'm sure that nearly all women don't expect the money to fall out of the sky but help is help and if £190 means that I can get more/something better for my child then all for it, some people will spend it on non-pregnancy related things but thats the same with everything, majority shouldn't suffer because of a small minority

 

[drea2904]

Any help for pregnant women is welcome so no i dont agree with you

I agree, any help is welcomed.

I always thought as it was a health in pregnancy grant that it should of been given in the way of fruit/veg/milk vouchers throughout pregnancy. I have bought healthy food (and some not so much lol) throughout my pregnancy and will continue to do so, I welcome the £190 as a lump sum to go towards my babies essential items.

 

[Mantha]

i can see where ur coming from! but to me its guna be very handy, im having my first child and i have nothing at all. So mine will be goin on steriliser and bottles n other things for my little man. Yh maybe ppl do see that as a waste bit i dont know how id be able to manage without it! And its alright ppl sayin that if u cant afford a chikd then dont have them but we all know it doesnt work like that! Maybe some ppl wont agree with me , ppls situations are different and mine wont be goin to waste. Maybe its not goin on fruit n veg, but its not goin on a night out either.

an if ppl think its that much of a waste then why send off for it??

Sorry my opinion, sum ppl do need it

 

[ChubbyCheeks]

Any help for pregnant women is welcome so no i dont agree with you

I think she's saying the opposite - that she doesn't like it when pregnant women blow the grant on something completely not baby-related, like shopping or dining out. And in that regard, I'd have to agree with her.

Maybe we should take part in some sort of lie detector test then eh
to prove we'll spend the money on what it's intended for?!

Like the other girl said why should we ALL be punished for the
small minority

 

[twinmummy5]

VOUCHERS!!! thats what it shud be given in and means tested. that way it wud be spent in the right areas not goin out and splashing out on havin nights out basically just blowing it. maternity clothes would be really useful round that time of ya pregnancy....bit late tryin to eat healthy at 25wks FFS baby has already developed. shud have been given milk.fruit coupons in the 1st tri. which they do but not for everyone!

 

[Saywhat]

i can see where ur coming from! but to me its guna be very handy, im having my first child and i have nothing at all. So mine will be goin on steriliser and bottles n other things for my little man. Yh maybe ppl do see that as a waste bit i dont know how id be able to manage without it! And its alright ppl sayin that if u cant afford a chikd then dont have them but we all know it doesnt work like that! Maybe some ppl wont agree with me , ppls situations are different and mine wont be goin to waste. Maybe its not goin on fruit n veg, but its not goin on a night out either.

an if ppl think its that much of a waste then why send off for it??

Sorry my opinion, sum ppl do need it

Hi hun, not disputing that its definitely handy and that some people need it (especially unplanned pregs) My point i guess was that if i have sent it off and feel a bit guilty (on a moderate income) then others must do too?? And from my perspective thats a waste. I'm not sure what i'm going to do with it to be honest. I think it should be means tested or scrapped

 

[captainj1]

as a higher rate tax payer I agree that it is a bit daft that i still get child benefit and the HIP grant, and that i can apply for maternity allowance (i'm self employed rather than being an employee). However on the flip side i pay a six figure sum in income tax every year, even more now that the rate has gone up to 50%, and get killed on road tax, council tax etc because the car and house i have are in top tax bands, so at the same time i'm funding a hell of a lot of other HIP grants so why shouldn't i get a little something back?

i don't need it for financial reasons but if it is there then i'm not going to avoid claiming just because I think it is morally wrong, as I think paying 50% tax is morally wrong. Where is the incentive to earn more, for entrepreneurship? I'm all for the rich paying more tax, but i think it should be enough to pay more in absolute terms rather than in % terms

that's just my view though and obvi i know how lucky i am (actually luck has nothing to do with it it has all been bloody hard work!) to be in this financial position. down side is that i won't be having long off on mat leave as there is a mortgage to pay that DH can't afford on his own!

 

[chelleb2]

If it's being spent on the baby what's the problem? I hate it when people moan about it then in the same breath say they're still going to apply for it

 

[EverythingXd]

I think it should have been means-tested.

If someone gets pregnant by accident and can't afford to raise the child, £190 is hardly going to make a difference because having children costs a lot more than that.

 

[Claireyh]

Totally agree with you. It's a waste of money. If you're having a baby, you should be providing for it! People expect these handouts when really it should be us as parents who provide for our children!

If it was going to be of use as a HEALTH in pregnancy, as one of the other posters suggested, it should be given as a voucher towards healthy food, not a lump sum. Of course anyone who recieves a lump sum is going to spend it on what they immediately need. Good idea in principle but again failed in practise!!

xxx

 

[Saywhat]

I don't claim any benefits & don't work. My OH does work.
I used the money to buy her some dummies, a rocker etc.

Some babies aren't planned so saying they should have a budget already isn't really very fair.
x

I hear what your saying and i agree to some extent. Though i do think it if it wasn't there we wouldn't miss it, and we would still cope you know? Especially for a lot of moderate to high income households, its unnecessary in my opinion

 

[Saywhat]

Totally agree with you. It's a waste of money. If you're having a baby, you should be providing for it! People expect these handouts when really it should be us as parents who provide for our children!

If it was going to be of use as a HEALTH in pregnancy, as one of the other posters suggested, it should be given as a voucher towards healthy food, not a lump sum. Of course anyone who recieves a lump sum is going to spend it on what they immediately need. Good idea in principle but again failed in practise!!

xxx

Yes i agree that it should be in voucher form/installments.
That was my main issue with it, its not being spent on its purpose.

 

[WhiteGeisha]

TBH for me the HIP grant (if we are to spend it on food etc) would have been more help to me when I was 6 - 15 weeks when my MS was so bad. All I wanted to eat was fruit and yoghurt and fruit and veg is so expensive and never lasts long.

My FOB left and hasn't wanted nothing to do with my baby - he hasn't given me a penny. So this grant is helping me buy a bed for my LO to sleep in.

I do agree some people do spend it on non baby/pregnancy related things which is wrong and this would be prevented by vouchers.

I agree with the comment about the rich getting it - I don't get £500 grant because I am not on income support but my wages is poor and it's a struggle to get LO everything I need.

 

[Saywhat]

If it's being spent on the baby what's the problem? I hate it when people moan about it then in the same breath say they're still going to apply for it

Hey hun, i disagree. If its there i think the majority will claim for it, because its free. DYKWIM?? Thats what i have an issue with. I can for sure use that money on baby clothes, food, vitamins, whatever. But i don't need it. I just think it shouldn't be given to everyone on tap. The sure start on the other hand IS a good idea as its means tested.

 

[drea2904]

[xxx[/QUOTE]

Yes i agree that it should be in voucher form/installments.
That was my main issue with it, its not being spent on its purpose.[/QUOTE]

This is what Ive always thought hence my previous post, It would of been helpful from 6 weeks+ either weekly or monthly vouchers, then its spent as it should be.

Im not going to knock it back as like others its all im entitled to so Ill use it but only for baby.