Yup 100%. I work in benefits. Foreword of the claim form below - xx
Can you get a Sure Start Maternity Grant?
You may be able to get a Sure Start Maternity Grant if:
l you or your partner are getting
– Income Support, or
– Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, or
– Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, or
– State Pension Credit, or
– Working Tax Credit which includes a disability or severe
disability element, or
– Child Tax Credit at a rate higher than family element.
From April 2010 to April 2011, this means a rate of £548 a year or
more, or £1095 a year or more if you have a baby under one. These
figures are for a whole year and will be less for part-years. Your tax
credits award notice will include a breakdown of your award. If your
Child Tax Credit total is greater than the amounts shown as the family
elements you may qualify for a Sure Start Maternity Grant. Note that
your tax credit award is based on your previous year’s income. If your
income reduces you can ask for your tax credit award to be reviewed.
We use partner to mean
– a person you are married to or a person you live with as if you are
married to them, or
– a civil partner or a person you live with as if you are civil partners.
Fill in the form fully by answering all the questions and requests for
information. Your application may be delayed if we do not have all
the information we need.
and
l you need help with buying things for a baby that:
– has recently been born, or
– is expected to be born in the next 11 weeks, or
– you have recently adopted, or
– is the subject of a residence order, or
– is the subject of a parental order under Section 30 of the Human
Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990.
l But you must:
– be the mother or expectant mother of the baby and you must be
aged 16 or over, or
– be the partner of the mother or expectant mother, or
– have adopted the baby, or
– have been granted a residence order for the baby in certain
circumstances, or
– be getting benefit for the mother or expectant mother if she is
aged under 20, or
– have been granted a parental order with your husband or your wife
under Section 30 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990.
When to claim
l You must claim in the period from 11 weeks before the week your
baby is due until 3 months after the baby is born.
l If you are waiting for a decision on a qualifying benefit or
entitlement, or you have asked for your Child Tax Credit award to be
reviewed, you must still claim within the time limits.
l If you are adopting a baby:
you must claim within 3 months of the date of the adoption order.
The baby must not be more than one year old when you claim.
l If you have been granted a parental order under Section 30 of the
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990:
you must claim within 3 months of the date you were granted
the order.
l If you have been granted a residence order for a baby:
you must claim within 3 months of the date you were granted the
order. The baby must not be more than one year old when you claim.
i understand it is what it is and theres people out there who need it more but i find this a little agitating as i spent so much time sending it bk again and again 
