Not entitled to SureStart... Is there a way around this?? Completly unfair.

[Love Bunny]

I'm moving in with my OH this monday and because he works full time (on a measly £4.77 minimum wage before tax!!!!) He's expected to provide for me so they won't pay me any JAS or Income Support. We are also BOTH under 25 so will not be entitled to any tax credits (working OR child) until our baby is born. Bacause of our age (under 25) this means there is no way of getting the SureStart grant that surely as a young family on a low income should be entitled to as you can only get it if you are on income support/recieve tax credits????!!!! This basically means, people BETTER off than us are able to get it when we aren't and really need it??!! We can barely scrape the rent/bills together and have prectically nothing left over to spend on baby nessessities...This really isn't fair as surely that grant is for people that are struggling?? Please if anyone knows a way around this let me know - I've been to the job centre but they basically said its tough luck and we won't get anything. I left practically in tears as I'm so worried about money at the moment and I just feel like we're being completly descriminated against and I feel awful as I can't get a job as no one will employ me xX

 

[kit603]

I know you can claim it up to 3 months after the birth, so if you get Tax credits once the baby is born then maybe you could get it backdated?

 

[Mumof42009]

I would appeal against the decision write them a letter,im not sure if it will do anything but may help otherwise apply again after you have the baby. Have you thought about doing a nursery plan so you can buy the essentials? Look on ebay as well cause you get some bargains.

 

[Love Bunny]

I just can't believe how rediculous this is !! How do they expect young families to prepare for their babys??? Its all very well them doing it upto 3 months after birth but what do they expect me to do?! have a quick blitz round the supermarket to grab everything I couldn't afford when I wanted to prepare beforehand!!?? This is so so stupid. what a shit system, we can barely afford anything to prepare and there they are expecting me to whip a pram, nappies and baby essentials out my arse the day its born when they cant even introduce a scheme to help young families that this STUPID grant clearly does not support unless you plan on going it alone or your over 25!!!!!! Its making me so mad!!! Sorry having a hormonal day and I'm really stessing out :'( ! Does this mean that i'm not entitled to healthy start either??? I mean cause that would just be friggin perfect!!!!

xxx

 

[stephwiggy]

you need toget the forms for tax credis asap and send off a few days after baby born - i filled all in before so all i needed to add was child name and dob

then apply for the grant !! with a letter attached saying that you are waiting for you tax credits to come thru !!!

worked for me

 

[babezone]

i no it does make ya laugh funny thing is makes u realise why so many people have no jobs. because you guys would be better of both signing on to jsa. getting ur 100 a week each and ur rent paid for you. thn u can get ur grant n i bet itd work out u hv moe left over too its stupid. i no its not much but dnt forget ul be entitled to the 190 grant for healthy eating. xxx

 

[jen1604]

^^I agree with Steph,you need to send it off a couple of days after bubs is born and apply for your grant then,I think you have up to 3 months to do it.I didn't do this but I've heard it worked for a few people.
You are definitely entitled to the £190 though and dont forget places like Freecycle and car boot sales,you will manage.I've been in your position and I promise it will all work out just fine xxxx

 

[kayleigh&bump]

I know it sucks doesnt it. Try entitledto.com, if you put all your bits and bobs in there it will tell you exactly what you are entitled to. You can also adjust it to as if the baby was here to see what you will get when he/she is born.

My hubby is too on a low wage, and i am out of work. Luckily he turned 25 a couple of months ago, so we can get working tax credits, but its not much. I too cant claim JSA as i am part of a couple (which is ridiculous). Why should I not be allowed something that so many people claim just cos im married?! Have you looked into housing benefit? You can claim this through your council, and is a good way to top up your wages towards your rent. And also council tax benefit.

Anyway, check out that site, it is good!! xx

 

[Dream.A.Dream]

You may be entitled to some element of housing benefit if you're on a low income xx

 

[kayleigh&bump]

yeah me and hubby get around £120 a month housing benefit on a 2 bed place, and he earns around £900 after tax a month. x

 

[DizzyMoo]

Hun if you don't mind me asking who do you live with now? Will you be giving up your current house or do you live with parents etc? If you live with parents then claim it as though you live there, i bloody would!

You are moving in with him so whoever works has to provide for the " family " & it's the decision you both make in the governments eyes, I don't agree with the age thing though, It should be available to anyone over 16 seen as that's the legal age to have a child anyway.

Could you wait until you get the grant before moving hun? xx

 

[Zarababy1]

if iv said this once iv said it a thousand times, they really need to get there finger out and sort some way around this out! the whole point of the grant is to help people who cant afford things!

 

[lesleyann]

as a young family i no how you feel, but once baby was here it was easy, and we did have alot of our things brought for us. My oh is the only one bringing in an income, we only live in a 2bed house but we get £151 housing a month and after tax he bring home about £940. Most of his wages goes on petrol to get to work though!! like £40-£60* £60 when prices are high* per week to work to earn money since his work is out in the middle of no where but they dont take into consideration things like bills you have to pay, or what you pay out to be able to work

 

[AP]

the whle thing is a JOKE! If you and OH were to sit on ur arses and do bugger all, you would get it. How unfair is that?

I often wonder....

I am as furious bout it as you. I worked through my pregnancy, morning sickness til18 weeks, paid my taxes, missed out on 2 months work as baby came early- and i get bugger all too.

Your man is working to support u all and u get nothing. Its not fair that those who cant be bothered trying get it on a plate(ie. My younger cousin)

 

[Justme]

I would definately appeal hun as now a days they enitially say no but when your case is re looked at because you have appealled they grant you the benifit etc.I think they do it just so they lose people who dont bother to challenge them. Aswel as looking out on ebay for cheap baby bargains I would also reccomend keeping an eye out on your local freecycle site.Good luck with it all hun and let us know how you get on x

 

[GersPrincess]

Can you not make a joint claim for income support? I was under the impression you can get a top up if you're on a low income, even if its only a pound or two, it will at least make you able to claim the sure start maternity grant.
If you cant, make sure you claim working and child tax credit as soon as possible so you can still have time to apply for the sure start.

Another option would be to find out if you're able to claim a crisis loan or something similar to help you pay for the things you need. Your local council will be able to tell you what schemes they run.

 

[Connah'sMommy]

I had exactly the same problem!

I had to leave my job as they refused to cut my hours and were being complete idiots regarding the pregnancy,so i went and signed on but they said i wouldnt be getting any JSA as i was living with OH and he was working full time...

Then went on to claim the Sure Start grant and was refused because OH was working!

It is a complete joke! wish i could appeal agains it but got no idea how i should go about it xx

 

[Mum2b_Claire]

Yeah I would look into a crisis loan as someone else said, while you appeal against the decision not to give you the grant.

It stinks doesn't it. OH and I are getting decent amounts of child tax credits when to be honest, we don't desperately need them. They need to sort this system out!

 

[DizzyMoo]

i know i replied already BUT thought i'd add this, I just found out my sis in law got the ssmg with her 3rd child, despite being married to my brother & living together & he worked full time. So i haven't a clue how the rules work but he defo earns more than your oh so i dunno what made them entitled as i know she didn't lie about being single or anything.

 

[lesleyann]

i know i replied already BUT thought i'd add this, I just found out my sis in law got the ssmg with her 3rd child, despite being married to my brother & living together & he worked full time. So i haven't a clue how the rules work but he defo earns more than your oh so i dunno what made them entitled as i know she didn't lie about being single or anything.

More than likely due to the tax credits she would already be getting? since its done on tax credits or JSA/income support