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

[mumtobeplus1]

Ill be claiming mine, lets face it, its not often you get something for nothing.
we are also entitled to sure start maternity grant due to low income. x

 

[MrsH1980]

I have to be honest - both DH and I work, we both earn decent salaries - not obscene - but decent, but we are both in the higher tax bracket so already get taxed to high heaven on everything. We have the same outgoings as everyone else with a house does plus some debts that we are trying to get rid of. We are entitled to no benefits at all, not now, not after but we are by no means 'minted' (if only!).

I completely understand what your saying about what it gets spent on and agree, it should have been vouchers or something like that but I struggle with the means-testing thing sometimes because there isn't just rich people and poor people...there are a load of us 'in the middle' who get totally screwed over because apparently we earn too much but when you look at the end figures it just isn't what people think.

I have no problems with people who receive benefits who are fully entitled to them and need them but when we are killing ourselves working overtime to pay for a 2nd hand cot from ebay and a half decent pushchair and a family member who has 3 kids and has never worked swans in with her new Bugaboo because they got a tax credit increase, it just gets my goat a bit.

Such is life, but I personally am looking forward to getting my HIP grant or else my baby will be sleeping in amongst the washing baskets in the spare room

 

[Blondie007]

MrsH, I am EXACTLY the same as you. By no means am I well off but both my husband and I have full time jobs and with our salaries we are entitiled to absolutely zilch and taxed to high heavens. Yet, we are struggling to get the cash together for everything and I will have to go back to work reasonably early as maternity pay isn't great!

Heyho!

 

[mumtobeplus1]

It is being scrapped in January aswell, so i think those of us who are still
able to claim it, should make the most of it. x

 

[Sarah&Ady]

I have to be honest - both DH and I work, we both earn decent salaries - not obscene - but decent, but we are both in the higher tax bracket so already get taxed to high heaven on everything. We have the same outgoings as everyone else with a house does plus some debts that we are trying to get rid of. We are entitled to no benefits at all, not now, not after but we are by no means 'minted' (if only!).

I completely understand what your saying about what it gets spent on and agree, it should have been vouchers or something like that but I struggle with the means-testing thing sometimes because there isn't just rich people and poor people...there are a load of us 'in the middle' who get totally screwed over because apparently we earn too much but when you look at the end figures it just isn't what people think.

I have no problems with people who receive benefits who are fully entitled to them and need them but when we are killing ourselves working overtime to pay for a 2nd hand cot from ebay and a half decent pushchair and a family member who has 3 kids and has never worked swans in with her new Bugaboo because they got a tax credit increase, it just gets my goat a bit.

Such is life, but I personally am looking forward to getting my HIP grant or else my baby will be sleeping in amongst the washing baskets in the spare room

Very well said we certainly fall in to the middle ... not entitled to bugger all and yet live on the breadline... my friend has just bought some 2k worth of things for her newborn. She hasnt worked in 10 years and lives of benefits... so no, I dont feel guilty for taking £190 ...after all I have been a UK tax payer since 1995. Time to get something back I guess!

 

[twinmummy5]

It should be vouchers instead of a lump sum.

Personally, I need it for food and I need it to survive.

I'm on a low income, 2 grand a year, but because I don't tick the boxes, I don't get help. This is all I get. So I'm sooo glad that I get it because it means I can afford to eat! Let alone eat healthy!

But I agree that in 99% it is a waste of money.

just wanted to say if ur only on 2k a year thats less than £40 per week!! How the heck can you not be eligable for extra support???? I suggest you go take a look at entitledto.com, this is a great site.
your 2k a year is less than JSA isnt it? so you are on an income lower than the gov say you can live on? Id be deffo looking into further help and benefits. x

 

[leash27]

First of all, I find it very difficult to comprehend why someone would disagree with something so strongly and yet go along with it anyway? If I was against HIP then I would not be claiming it, is that not the logical thing to do?

Unfortunately, OH and I fall into the so-called 'middle earner' category which is by no means a life of luxuary. We struggle with the same things as everyone else-bills,mortgage,running a car etc and we are entitled to zilch when LO is born. Every spare penny we have is going on all the baby things we need so there is no way I am going to pass up £190 if it is being offered to me!! Like many women have already said, I have been paying tax etc since I was 16 years of age and never claimed a penny for anything, why shouldn't I be entitled to something back if it is going to help buy the essentials?

Some of the people I know who live on benefits seem to cope way better than I can on my 'middle' salary. I will be forced to go back to work early because we cannot afford to live off SMP for too long, I would love to quit work and stay at home with my son but its just not an option. I completely disagree that it should be means tested as it means the same people who get the handouts will qualify while the rest of us get zip!

I don't mean to have a rant but this has really got to me! Some of my friends have struggled for months throughout their pregnancy in order to have everything they need when their baby arrives. If they are providing for their child then I don't think it is anyone's business what they spend their HIP on. There is noone to police how the unemployed spend their income support is there? Consider what % of that goes on cigarettes and alcohol etc! My HIP will be spent on baby clothes and a bouncer but if a pregnant woman wanted to treat herself to some shoes then I would not judge - give them a break!

Ok I am going to shut up now.....

X

 

[Natsku]

I don't think benefits like this should be means tested because its hardly fair to expect higher earners to pay more tax but not give them the benefits of that tax.

But I like how they do the maternity grant here in Finland you can choose the money option (about the same amount as HIP) or you get a box full of baby clothes and stuff which is worth much more and of course its all going straight to the baby (well not all, there's condoms and lube in the box too and I'm guessing they're not for the baby...)

 

[hb1]

It's a mute point now that it's being scrapped - agree with Leah - if you don't like it don't claim it.

We both work, won't get any help and quite frankly - I've earned it and am grateful for it.

hx

 

[donna-c-86]

lol, thats quite a good idea and should def be compulsary for known drug addicts

 

[mayb_baby]

Sent mine off on Thursday should be here soon

 

[donna-c-86]

 

[whoops]

I don't think benefits like this should be means tested because its hardly fair to expect higher earners to pay more tax but not give them the benefits of that tax.

But I like how they do the maternity grant here in Finland you can choose the money option (about the same amount as HIP) or you get a box full of baby clothes and stuff which is worth much more and of course its all going straight to the baby (well not all, there's condoms and lube in the box too and I'm guessing they're not for the baby...)

LOL! Bit late for those...

I'm in Ireland, and there's nothing like the HIP here. However, if I was in the UK, I'd be happy to take it, even though I don't 'need' it.

I'm currently living at home with my parents, so my outgoings are minimal. That said, I've worked either part-time or full-time since I was 15 years old, and I've worked throughout this pregnancy. Every spare cent I have goes into my savings - some of which will be spent on baby stuff, and some of which will be put aside so that by the time my child starts school, I'll have enough to get a place for the two of us. After the baby is here, I'll be entitled to maternity pay from the government because I'm working, and One Parent Allowance, and Family Income Support because I'm a single mum, along with the Children's Allowance (our Child Benefit).

Part of me feels uneasy about claiming anything, even though I will be working as well next year, and part of me says screw it! I've worked for ten years and paid tax, and I'll be damned if my pride or moral conscience is going to get in the way of claiming everything I can to give my child a better life.

It's a shame that some people on benefits do abuse the system, so that people like me feel there's a stigma about claiming legitimate payments.

 

[H a]

i grateful of anything, as for when i go on maternity my wages will drop and we will struggle but it will help us to buy things we really need for us or the baby.
we both work really hard but i still feel we deserve something to help why shouldn't we?

 

[Dragonfly]

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.

 

[mayb_baby]

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 and mine will be spent on 'nice baby clothes and his letters for his room' as he has everything no joke and some maternity clothes for me as I have no clothes at all. . . and I have my baby sorted and I have food anyway

 

[BessiiBoop]

Not everyone can budget, we're lucky my o/h is a graphic designer and works full time and i run my own company but we still fall short from time to time and the fact for us being that im unable to work as much at the moment as im on bedrest so this will come in really handy and for the odd few that spend it on nights out then i think they should rethink their roles as parents and responsible adults as personally id ratehr scrimp and save to make sure my baby has everything they couldnt need rather than buying it cheap and blowing the money on myself. but thats just me and everyones entitaled to an opinion xx

 

[crazyguider]

I will be spending mine on equipment for the baby
we have budgeted for everything and can afford it
but I'm not going to lie to you...it's nice to have a little help so we can put the money we had budgetted away. I certainly won't be spending it on going out or on things for me.

We r moving and we hve also had to get a new car as our car has died a death
so money is tight

 

[sugarwag]

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

 

[MissMegs2]

We don't qualify for benefits and up until I started maternity leave we both worked, but this £190 has been such a welcome extra and almost £200 makes such a huge difference to us. I am very very grateful for it