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

[veganmum2be]

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

i have to agree with you xx

yeah but for the people that need help there is the sure start grant, which is for baby items, and its a very decent ammount that does enable parents to buy every essential item for baby. an extra 190 is totaly unnecessary in my opinion.
x

 

[ttc_lolly]

Maybe to the ppl that get the surestart... but I'm not entitled to that and I know this £190 is going to be very helpful for me!

 

[Mrs Doddy]

I'm using mine for baby things as this is my first baby It has come in handy, I think that they could have given vouchers so we could only use it for essential baby things as I'm sure some people don't use it for baby things

however in this climate I think that they should scrap it I'm sure that there are better things to use the money on

 

[daniellelk]

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

I agree. Mine didn't get used on fruit or veg or anything....
I split mine....£70 bought the bouncer and play matt, and the other £70 went on stuff for our house, like on wallpaper, as it was just bare plaster, which in my eye's kinda means the baby's and my health is benefiting from it, as now that's a little bit more that i'm not stressing about getting done in the house....just the bathroom, nursery and conservatory to find the money for now :/ ...if I knew I was pregnant before we started to knock wall's out and stripping wall's and everything it wouldn't have got done.
So not really used for "health" but used for stuff for the baby, and to get thing's ready for him coming along....

 

[stardust599]

I'm in 2 minds - me and OH are middle earners (I think - 16k and 18k) and just comfortably pay our household bills, debts (yes, own fault!) and food with a small amount left over each month for a haircut or something. Having a baby is stretching us but we'll adjust and manage and I don't really think £180 is going to make a difference - we'd still end up with everything we need regardless of whether we got the grant or not. We've bought most things second hand and will finish off the rest second hand except our cot. We are getting our pram and carseat bought for us but we'd have scraped together some money if we had to buy it ourselves.

Saying that, it will still be very helpful for us - I plan to spend it on the final bits and pieces and have made a big list of the things I need to stretch it to -

Another batch of prenatal and breastfeeding vitamins (could have done with these at the start though - paid out a fortune so it's a bit late now!!)
Bits for my hosp bag - basic toiletries, breast pads, maternity pads etc.
Bits for LO - sterilising tabs, breast milk storage, disposable bibs & changing pads etc, thermometer etc.
Some basic sheets/blankets for LO and maybe some towels if I can squeeze them in too
A couple of feeding bras and vests for me
Some toys for LO
A natal hypnotherapy CD and book set and a TENS machine
A growth/reassurance scan at 32ish weeks

Don't know if I'll be able to afford all that with it but it'll definately be a big help and clear a huge chunk of it and help set us up for beanie arriving.

We've both worked all our lifes since leaving school and have never claimed a penny in benefit (we are 19 and 29) so I don't feel guilty at all.

I don't think everyone should get it though - I wish it was easy to regulate the spending of it - maybe Boots/Mothercare/Tesco/Asda vouchers with the requirement it gets spent on pregnancy or new baby related items??

I know a girl (through a friend) who still smokes, drinks etc. and her parents have bought ALL her baby items so no doubt her grant will be wasted which really blood annoys me when they're are hardworking people out there who need it!! She claims JSA (switching to IS soon I think) so she'll also get her £500 sure start but has nothing left to buy and still lives with Mum so what exactly is that going to get spent on?? I'm sure there are lots more people out there who waste it too! Grrr

18+5 xx

EDIT: Nappies!!! And special baby washing powder - will stock up on these with my grant too!

 

[hinkybinky]

I'm spending mine on NCT ante-natal classes as, according to the midwife, the ones in my area have been put on hold due to midwife shortage. I'd be delighted if they redirected the savings towards improving NHS ante-natal care and midwife provision.

 

[jenniferannex]

my £190 helped me alot, i got my cot bedding, lilys bouncer and alot more things with it.

i dont think it should be scrapped, the £190 health grant doesn't necessarily have to be for health things, i think spending that money on anything for the baby is fine, and yes some people wil spend it on other things, but the majority dont. it has helped alot of us out.

 

[Jox]

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.

I have to disagree im afraid. I work, have a mortgage, car etc but i bet my income disposable income is lower than those on benefits and housing benefits yet they WILL get the sure start grant and I wont??? I dont understand the fairness in that??

So Basically, dont work, get your house paid for by the council and you WILL get all the benefits, where as those who TRY to provide for themselves shouldnt get anything?

I will take the HIP grant (and any other 'free money') with open arms because I dont get offered it very often...whether it goes on food or other stuff...what ever it pays for will be for my baby. I pay tax and NI so why shouldnt i get some of that back just because I work?

xxx

 

[rainbows_x]

Maybe to the ppl that get the surestart... but I'm not entitled to that and I know this £190 is going to be very helpful for me!

Same!
I am not claiming any benefits or working but I can't get income support as my OH works more than 24 hours a week, so therefore can't get the SSMG! That £190 really helped me xxx

 

[daniellelk]

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.

I have to disagree im afraid. I work, have a mortgage, car etc but i bet my income disposable income is lower than those on benefits and housing benefits yet they WILL get the sure start grant and I wont??? I dont understand the fairness in that??

So Basically, dont work, get your house paid for by the council and you WILL get all the benefits, where as those who TRY to provide for themselves shouldnt get anything?

I will take the HIP grant (and any other 'free money') with open arms because I dont get offered it very often...whether it goes on food or other stuff...what ever it pays for will be for my baby. I pay tax and NI so why shouldnt i get some of that back just because I work?

xxx

I don't work anymore, but chance's are I wont get the sure start I can't even get any benefit's because my OH's wage's are ment to be enough to cover our bill's and feed us both and pay toward's the up bringing of his daughter he's not seen for just under 2year's because of his ex being a spitefull *****.
He doesn't even earn anywhere near 15k a year :S We manage tho just, im going to apply for the sure start grant tho, just incase I can get it, as I'v worked and paid tax and NI for 3year's and i'd still be in work now if I could have found a job before I got to heavily pregnant, been told by jobcentre I'v not got much of a chance of getting it tho until I get my CTC :/
How I miss working and having a income of my own

 

[emmi26]

my £190 helped me alot, i got my cot bedding, lilys bouncer and alot more things with it.

i dont think it should be scrapped, the £190 health grant doesn't necessarily have to be for health things, i think spending that money on anything for the baby is fine, and yes some people wil spend it on other things, but the majority dont. it has helped alot of us out.

i totally agree !!
i do love these threads you read the original post and if you skip through you see boobs and bras thrown in too we always manage to wander !!!!

 

[jenniferannex]

my £190 helped me alot, i got my cot bedding, lilys bouncer and alot more things with it.

i dont think it should be scrapped, the £190 health grant doesn't necessarily have to be for health things, i think spending that money on anything for the baby is fine, and yes some people wil spend it on other things, but the majority dont. it has helped alot of us out.

i totally agree !!
i do love these threads you read the original post and if you skip through you see boobs and bras thrown in too we always manage to wander !!!!

everything gets thrown in

 

[xemmax]

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.

I have to disagree im afraid. I work, have a mortgage, car etc but i bet my income disposable income is lower than those on benefits and housing benefits yet they WILL get the sure start grant and I wont??? I dont understand the fairness in that??

So Basically, dont work, get your house paid for by the council and you WILL get all the benefits, where as those who TRY to provide for themselves shouldnt get anything?

I will take the HIP grant (and any other 'free money') with open arms because I dont get offered it very often...whether it goes on food or other stuff...what ever it pays for will be for my baby. I pay tax and NI so why shouldnt i get some of that back just because I work?

xxx

totally agree!

my OH has his own business and he earns a small wage... i am a student and my earnings last year were just £4000! but because i do work and don't claim benefits, i can't get the surestart despite the fact it would help us greatly.

means testing isn't always as fair as it seems, because sometimes people on good wages have outgoings which leave them with little disposable income. any extension to a family requires additional money from somewhere, regardless of your income, so although some may need it more than others - everyone needs it to some degree.

 

[xprincessx]

sorry i dont agree with you at all...some people need that money and while it's available to me i'll take it and buy my son whatever i want with it

 

[trumpetbum]

I definitely don't think it does what it is actually meant to. I'm using mine for my baby's cot, I'm no healthier with or without it and I'd prefer to see a means tested grant, improved maternity services or 'health in pregnancy' strategy that didn't just involve handing out 200 quid to all pregnant women. I do agree that 'means testing' isn't a particularly effective system at the moment though as it disqualifies certain groups of financially disadvantaged people. So 'in an ideal world' those who needed help would get it.

Having said that, it's available and if you qualify for it then it's noones business what you use it for.

 

[mayb_baby]

Ok my opinion you don't like it, want it scrapped, think its a waste, don't know how you will spend it, don't appreciate or need it THEN DON'T CLAIM IT! Alot of people do need all the help they can get and its ignorant and hypocritical to claim it if you think its so wrong!

 

[Farie]

We don't have it over here. If you plan for a baby them its taken for granted you can afford it.

That said, for the majority of parents I think a little help is really welcome

 

[Saywhat]

Ok my opinion you don't like it, want it scrapped, think its a waste, don't know how you will spend it, don't appreciate or need it THEN DON'T CLAIM IT! Alot of people do need all the help they can get and its ignorant and hypocritical to claim it if you think its so wrong!

Calm down! I think you've missed the point that if its available TO ALL (i.e. including me!) people WILL claim it. Thats why its a totally pointless grant - TO SOME PEOPLE!!!! And if it was means tested the people "who need all the help they can get" would still get it! And therefore the government would save loads, pretty good in this economic climate.

Lets not turn a nice thread nasty, i don't think i've been particularly offensive here

 

[laura6914]

i havent read through all the posts so wont air my opinion but.....

Can i ask when this is actually being slashed as i dont get my claims form until my 28 weeks appointment with the MW next month.

 

[sherple]

i havent read through all the posts so wont air my opinion but.....

Can i ask when this is actually being slashed as i dont get my claims form until my 28 weeks appointment with the MW next month.

Not until next April as far as im aware, so you should be fine.