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

[Love3Hope4]

I see it in simple terms...

The MP's used tax payers money to clean their moats... pay for ridiculous stuff in their second homes...

I HAVE TO SQUEEZE A BABY OUT MY VJJ! We all deserve bravery medals and a lot more money!


xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I love your simple terms. And totally AGREE!!

 

[emsie]

I have paid enough taxes over the years, so I deserve a little something back once in a while.

 

[bella2]

so dont agree!!!

i work full time, have a mortgage to pay, oh works full time too and we get rock all else from the government! theres lots of ppl out there who havent worked a day in their lives and get all kinds of benefits and spend it on drink, plasma tvs, and other luxuries...

so if u dont like the hip grant dont send off for it! i am as its the only tiny bit of help we will get!! with a £1000 a month mortgage on my maternity pay... i dont think its enough help to be honest!

 

[miamix]

Post deleted

 

[Dragonfly]

so dont agree!!!

i work full time, have a mortgage to pay, oh works full time too and we get rock all else from the government! theres lots of ppl out there who havent worked a day in their lives and get all kinds of benefits and spend it on drink, plasma tvs, and other luxuries...

so if u dont like the hip grant dont send off for it! i am as its the only tiny bit of help we will get!! with a £1000 a month mortgage on my maternity pay... i dont think its enough help to be honest!

I agree also, if you dont agree with it dont apply for it.

And thats one hell of a high mortgage! Why not have a bit back when you most need it. Not even a lot in the great scheme of the world of baby stuff you will need.

 

[87lianne]

Dont know why poeple continue to moan about this when its being scrapped anyway. I think its helpful and dont care who spends it on what to be honest thats their business. Its people that yap and moan about it and pick on what others do annoys me. I am just glad i was able to get it this time so I could buy baby clothes for my new baby and I used some on my son also for new clothes but suppose that will upset someone because it wasnt spend on healthy food.

I agree with this by the time your eligible to get the grant at 25 weeks alot of people would have spent over £190 on baby things and healthy eating etc (i know i have) so I think that what they do with the money is there business and as you said whats the point in moaning about it when its going to be scrapped soon anyway!

 

[rainbowchild]

so dont agree!!!

i work full time, have a mortgage to pay, oh works full time too and we get rock all else from the government! theres lots of ppl out there who havent worked a day in their lives and get all kinds of benefits and spend it on drink, plasma tvs, and other luxuries...

so if u dont like the hip grant dont send off for it! i am as its the only tiny bit of help we will get!! with a £1000 a month mortgage on my maternity pay... i dont think its enough help to be honest!

I completely agree with you. My hubby and I have worked always and I have NEVER claimed anything from the government in my life.

My hubby being in the forces also means that when we move I have to get a new job and I am never entitled to any jobseekers allowance or signing on anything as its my choice to leave me job - even although the government have moved my hubby and I am forced to leave my job.

I am all for it. My cousin and his wife get everything from the government claiming for plasmas, get a dog allowance - yes a dog allowance, get their rent paid for them the lot and were off on holiday a few weeks ago. Something me and my and my husband could not afford this year - even though we work full-time and have a small mortgage and no debt.

I'm taking it for my family.

 

[mayb_baby]

so dont agree!!!

i work full time, have a mortgage to pay, oh works full time too and we get rock all else from the government! theres lots of ppl out there who havent worked a day in their lives and get all kinds of benefits and spend it on drink, plasma tvs, and other luxuries...

so if u dont like the hip grant dont send off for it! i am as its the only tiny bit of help we will get!! with a £1000 a month mortgage on my maternity pay... i dont think its enough help to be honest!

I completely agree with you. My hubby and I have worked always and I have NEVER claimed anything from the government in my life.

My hubby being in the forces also means that when we move I have to get a new job and I am never entitled to any jobseekers allowance or signing on anything as its my choice to leave me job - even although the government have moved my hubby and I am forced to leave my job.

I am all for it. My cousin and his wife get everything from the government claiming for plasmas, get a dog allowance - yes a dog allowance, get their rent paid for them the lot and were off on holiday a few weeks ago. Something me and my and my husband could not afford this year - even though we work full-time and have a small mortgage and no debt.

I'm taking it for my family.

You cannot 'claim' a plasma and the only help they give for a pet is half price to 'fix' your dog, to stop unwanted puppies! With all the money government 'hand out' to pay rent is nesessary as your cousin and wife will still be making under 18k a year. . Minimum and thats where I will be next year as a 19 year old single parent, I have read all I am entitled to and its not as 'rosie' as some seem to think!

 

[Dragonfly]

claiming plasma of the government what?

 

[ladykara]

so dont agree!!!

i work full time, have a mortgage to pay, oh works full time too and we get rock all else from the government! theres lots of ppl out there who havent worked a day in their lives and get all kinds of benefits and spend it on drink, plasma tvs, and other luxuries...

so if u dont like the hip grant dont send off for it! i am as its the only tiny bit of help we will get!! with a £1000 a month mortgage on my maternity pay... i dont think its enough help to be honest!

I agree also, if you dont agree with it dont apply for it.

And thats one hell of a high mortgage! Why not have a bit back when you most need it. Not even a lot in the great scheme of the world of baby stuff you will need.

£1000 a month mortgage is pretty avarage for where i live, rent for a 3 bed is £1200 a month....

 

[Dragonfly]

so dont agree!!!

i work full time, have a mortgage to pay, oh works full time too and we get rock all else from the government! theres lots of ppl out there who havent worked a day in their lives and get all kinds of benefits and spend it on drink, plasma tvs, and other luxuries...

so if u dont like the hip grant dont send off for it! i am as its the only tiny bit of help we will get!! with a £1000 a month mortgage on my maternity pay... i dont think its enough help to be honest!

I agree also, if you dont agree with it dont apply for it.

And thats one hell of a high mortgage! Why not have a bit back when you most need it. Not even a lot in the great scheme of the world of baby stuff you will need.

£1000 a month mortgage is pretty avarage for where i live, rent for a 3 bed is £1200 a month....

Ah your in London i heard its very dear there, I not say where I live for half of that lol different areas etc.

 

[secretbaby]

Hubby works and I work part time - so we aren't entitled to any other benefits. We have very little disposable income after bills - and often none. The HIP grant is very welcome - and will be used for baby items. If they means tested it we wouldn't get it.

It also annoys me what people who get the sure start grant spend it on. I know some people spend it wisely but many don't.

I am all in favour of vouchers rather than cash - so they know it is spent on what it is supposed to be spent on.

 

[Chellepot]

I saw a few people mentioning that HIP grant is being scrapped in April however my midwife told me I am lucky because I qualify to claim it in Dec, just before it gets stopped in Jan. My midwife may have been wrong but it might be worth checking when it does actually stop.

That aside I will be claiming it. I hope what I am about to say won't offend anyone, it is purely my own opinion and is not intentionally meant to offend. I have paid my tax contributions since I was 15 years old and I feel I have contributed more than enough to the system to make this claim guilt free. I have no issues that women who have never worked and paid taxes can also get this grant but if I choose not to spend it on fruit and veg I think thats a right I deserve as a full time worker. When I return to work from maternity leave my entire wage will go on childcare, I will have no money or time for personal treats so why shouldn't I treat myself with the HIP grant. I don't need the money to buy veg as I already buy it as part of my usual shop but a spa or massage would go down a treat!

As it happens I will not be spending my grant money on a spa or massage, in fact I will be using it to boost the £250 Child Trust Fund money we will also get from the government after the baby is born but if I did want to go for a foot massage, given that I am still working during my pregnancy, I don't see anything wrong with that. The only thing I strongly disagree with is using it to buy things that harm the baby such as alcohol, cigarettes or drugs but I think thats a given.

 

[purpleposting]

I am actually very grateful for the HIP grant and the SureStart Grant, which we are entitled to as OH lost his job a bit back. Sometimes you can't predict what's going to happen in the future and this money has come in very handy for us.

I worked up until having my kids and OH has worked full-time up until now, this little bit of help has been much appreciated and we have spent the money we have got so far wisely (not on expensive prams!), getting all the essentials needed and yes, it will actually help us out paying for healthier food!!! Now being on a limited shopping budget I can see why poorer families choose junk food, sometimes healthier stuff can be dearer than you would like to pay.

Anyway, I have received my SureStart grant, but am still waiting for the HIP grant to come through. One small problem on the form and I am left waiting weeks! The baby might be here before I get it!

I think if you are entitled to it and need it or want it, then go for it and spend it on what you like! It's currently there for the taking and most will fully appreciate the money for many things.
I do think the government went about it the wrong way though. If they were that bothered about it being for healthy food it could have been more means tested or handed out in the way of vouchers or something. And why is it £190? Why not £175 or £200? Funny amount.

Whilst on the subject of grants, I also agree that the £500 SureStart grant should be means-tested and only for the first child. It would encourage people to look around a bit more, get better value bits and pieces and then save them for future use. But again, maybe the government should use a voucher scheme for this grant too?

 

[Dragonfly]

I saw a few people mentioning that HIP grant is being scrapped in April however my midwife told me I am lucky because I qualify to claim it in Dec, just before it gets stopped in Jan. My midwife may have been wrong but it might be worth checking when it does actually stop.

That aside I will be claiming it. I hope what I am about to say won't offend anyone, it is purely my own opinion and is not intentionally meant to offend. I have paid my tax contributions since I was 15 years old and I feel I have contributed more than enough to the system to make this claim guilt free. I have no issues that women who have never worked and paid taxes can also get this grant but if I choose not to spend it on fruit and veg I think thats a right I deserve as a full time worker. When I return to work from maternity leave my entire wage will go on childcare, I will have no money or time for personal treats so why shouldn't I treat myself with the HIP grant. I don't need the money to buy veg as I already buy it as part of my usual shop but a spa or massage would go down a treat!

As it happens I will not be spending my grant money on a spa or massage, in fact I will be using it to boost the £250 Child Trust Fund money we will also get from the government after the baby is born but if I did want to go for a foot massage, given that I am still working during my pregnancy, I don't see anything wrong with that. The only thing I strongly disagree with is using it to buy things that harm the baby such as alcohol, cigarettes or drugs but I think thats a given.

is the child trust fund not scrapped also?

 

[tigs]

I think the means testing of benefits makes them cost alot more... so basically if you say 'everyone gets X' you stop the massise of red tape, appeals, and buroocuracy (sp) ...

If you means tested it it would cost the gov more...

However, I feel if it is designed for 'Healthy eating' the gov could have boxed clever - and given you weekly 'vouchers' to spend on 'really healthy food'.. eg fruit veg milk ... rather than giving you responsiblity for spending the cash...

Of course a load of people would then moan about the nanny state!

 

[Chellepot]

is the child trust fund not scrapped also?

Not as far as I am aware, but Child Trust Fund money is different because it cannot be touched by parents so it would be pretty bad if the government took this benefit back off children. Certainly I had the form and an explanation booklet for it in my maternity pack up, its mentioned in nearly all my pregnancy books including the one the NHS produces and im sure it would have been mentioned by my midwife if the information was no longer valid - she did go through all the bits and bobs inside my maternity pack and point out anything that didn't apply anymore.

That said I cannot be 100% sure it hasn't , I will ask at my next appointment

 

[tigs]

It has been scrapped - but they wont take the money back that they have allready give out...


I think if your child is 7 before april it will get a second award - else you only get what you ahve been given -

So my first LO has a the grant but my second wont... seams a little unfair

But I don't think 18 year olds will neccessarily make a good choice with a large lump sum anyway - I would rather have some control over what my LO spends the money on (think car, house, travel... not booze!!)

 

[smiffy85]

I plan to use the money to pay for my antenatal classes with the nct. We have heard lots of good things about them from friends and colleagues. I agree it should be spent wisely but don't have a problem with a mum to be treating herself to something like a massage as this would relax her and her little one xx

 

[rainbowchild]

so dont agree!!!

i work full time, have a mortgage to pay, oh works full time too and we get rock all else from the government! theres lots of ppl out there who havent worked a day in their lives and get all kinds of benefits and spend it on drink, plasma tvs, and other luxuries...

so if u dont like the hip grant dont send off for it! i am as its the only tiny bit of help we will get!! with a £1000 a month mortgage on my maternity pay... i dont think its enough help to be honest!

I completely agree with you. My hubby and I have worked always and I have NEVER claimed anything from the government in my life.

My hubby being in the forces also means that when we move I have to get a new job and I am never entitled to any jobseekers allowance or signing on anything as its my choice to leave me job - even although the government have moved my hubby and I am forced to leave my job.

I am all for it. My cousin and his wife get everything from the government claiming for plasmas, get a dog allowance - yes a dog allowance, get their rent paid for them the lot and were off on holiday a few weeks ago. Something me and my and my husband could not afford this year - even though we work full-time and have a small mortgage and no debt.

I'm taking it for my family.

You cannot 'claim' a plasma and the only help they give for a pet is half price to 'fix' your dog, to stop unwanted puppies! With all the money government 'hand out' to pay rent is nesessary as your cousin and wife will still be making under 18k a year. . Minimum and thats where I will be next year as a 19 year old single parent, I have read all I am entitled to and its not as 'rosie' as some seem to think!

You wanna bet - they received money to get a new TV. Unless they are lying?! And also they are both capable of working full-time - both of them - but they choose not too so that they can have their child care paid for them and their rent and dole money. That's fact - came straight from their mouths.

Anyway totally off topic.

I'm applying for my HIP grant.