NOT getting Maternity Grant PANIC

[Skippy54]

I agree apply again when your LO has arrived and until by second hand. Thats what we have been doing and have got some great deals.

Please dont judge all people on benefits though ladies. My OH recently got made redundant and we have had to claim JSA until he finds a new job. I am very aware that people look at me, pregnant with my second and think 'oh, another scrouging young couple on benefits' but its not like that at all, he was working when I fell pregnant. In this economic climate some people have not had a choice!

Agreed!! me and my oh have both worked since we were 16 and both had full time jobs when this baby was conceived, and as much as he hates it, he's on JSA, so yes that means we're entitled to the grant, which I'm so great full for as it means the things we were originally planing on buying the baby we still can until we find our feet again.

My advice would be try again when the baby's born hun and keep an eye out for bargains on eBay ect.... Good luck xx

 

[hulahoop09]

So if you are awarded more than £548 a year you are entitled to the SSMG when baby is between 0-12weeks. This is approx £45 a month / £10 a week.

An income low enough to get Working Tax Credits as a couple will be low enough (by far) to be granted over £548 a year.

Of course this only applies to a first baby.

We are able to got ctc but not wtc. they said we will get around 45pm ctc. Is it worth putting in for it when lo is here then? I wasnt expecting it as we both work but if we are able to get it then would be a bonus as will help while on smp. xx

 

[Celesse]

I'd apply for tax credits now, get in the system even if you know you will be entitled to nothing. This will mean when baby arrives all you do is update an existing claim, rather than start a new one making it a little quicker. Also when baby arrives give them an estimated income for the year based including weeks recieving SMP. Tax Credits are stupidly complicated and until you actually claim you don't know the exact figure you will get.

No harm in applying for the SSMG when baby is here if you think you are around the cut off point.

 

[hulahoop09]

Can I actually apply for tax credits now? I have already received the pack and filled out with what babus details i can etc so am guessing i will just have to wait til she is here now which is next wednesday then gotta wait a wk or so til we can register her birth. Xx

 

[Celesse]

I really should have read your sig! Only a week or so to go . You will need baby to be registered to claim Child Benefit and you need to be claiming Child Benefit to claim Child Tax credit. I don't remember it taking long for Child Benefit to come through, but it took us 3 weeks to get an appointment with the registrars.

 

[hulahoop09]

Yea i called them and they said i cant book appointment til baby is here and it will be at most couple of wks. I spoke to tax credits re the child benefit reference you have to put on form and they said just send out without as they liase with child benefit and will get from.them so do i just send both forms off for ctc and cb when i have birth certificates? lol. Sorry ive hijacked the thread a little! xx

 

[sequeena]

It'll work out in the end hun have you got friends or family with kids? I had my moses basket and swinging crib given to me, great help and saved me tons of money I don't use the crib anymore though as I cosleep. The moses basket is downstairs for during the day.

 

[Nickij]

Definately try NCT nearly new sales. They always have great condition moses baskets/ cots, clothes buggys for a fraction of the price.

We aren't on a bad salarys and have still got loads of stuff second hand. Both from friends, NCT sales and Ebay.

 

[Sparklywand]

I appreciate that people may find themselves out of work for whatever reason and there are a number of people who are desperate to work but can't find anything etc. But my argument is that everyone should be given this grant.

Why should someone be given £500 free money? but because I work I get absolutely nothing but continue to get up on a daily basis to prop up the system. £500 would be extremely useful for me. Hearing things like these grants being available makes me look at the amount of tax and national insurance I pay and makes my bloody boil.

Why can't I have this grant? Because I worked my arse off to get the job that I wanted and the degree I wanted. I think it doesn't at all provide an incentive to people who cant be bothered to get a job to actually get one.

Just my opinion...

 

[Blah11]

If everyone got £500, that would be £350,000,000 per year. I'd rather NO ONE got it than my taxes being wasted like that.

 

[Sparklywand]

ok - i agree then, no-one should get it, I would be happy with that. Just makes me annoyed that some do and some don't.

 

[AP]

I personally think we should scrap the grant, it's always gonna be unfair to some. I don't get why we should have huge sums of money just given away because we chose to have kids. Unplanned or not.

 

[becsparkel]

Do you no the only thing i wish theyd pay more out on is my maternity pay... i worked in the same place for 2 years, mixed hours never lover than 24 but nearly up to 50 on some days, and i get a basic rate maternity... it means budgeting my whole house on bills as my OH is P/T work and P/T Uni... Hes worked since 16, and were entitled to only the bare minimum to help us live in our own home.

as i told my OH ill go without if it means bella is cared for

i wish i even got maternity pay . ive also worked for the same company for 2 years... they bullied me till i had depression and a breakdown and was signed off, resulting in them telling me i wont get a penny from them .


xxx

Can they do that? You might want to look into it a bit more - I used to work in HR and was more up on this stuff but it doesn't sound right to me - have you checked out the Gov page?:
https://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyT...ort/Expectingorbringingupchildren/DG_10018741

To the original poster - FREECYCLE is freakin awesome! I check out the Lewisham one regularly and there is a constant flow of baby stuff, cots and all, totally free!

 

[hulahoop09]

If everyone got £500, that would be £350,000,000 per year. I'd rather NO ONE got it than my taxes being wasted like that.

I would rather no one got it but seems the government like giving money away so I am gonna try for my piece seeing as worked all of my working life. lol. So glad they only do for first child as stopped my greedy cousin lapping it up! xx

 

[hellywelly]

Totally agree, either give it to all or scrap it.

 

[xxembobxx]

as i told my OH ill go without if it means bella is cared for

i wish i even got maternity pay . ive also worked for the same company for 2 years... they bullied me till i had depression and a breakdown and was signed off, resulting in them telling me i wont get a penny from them .
xxx[/QUOTE]
As a few PP's have said you might still be entitled to something. If you left work AFTER you became pregnant then you could at least claim maternity allowance which is £128 a week for 39 weeks. Every little helps
And depending upon the time since you left you could even have a claim for constructive dismissal.

 

[Eternal]

When i was pregnant with my first everyone got a Health in Pregnancy grant, it was automatically given and not means tested, it was £190. So no where near as much as this over grant but useful.

Im a bit for the all or nothing argument too, it annoys me as we sit right at the level where we dont qualify for stuff and yet get mega taxed on it. we know people who earn less but more than get what we do with benefit top ups.

Not that i have anything against benefits or top ups or grants etc, its just frustrating for those who dont get it.

 

[Sherileigh]

Why do some of you expect benefits when you're both working and have an income?! Surely you don't NEED anymore than a little topup on what you already earn? I get £315 out of my £550 nursery bill and thats it. I dont really expect more as it was my choice to have kids. Its tough but hey ho, so is life.

As did other parents that don't earn enough to support their children make a choice to have kids. Not saying what I think is right, I don't even live there. Just stating the other side.

 

[Blah11]

I don't agree with people planning for children they have no means to support but that's a whole other debate!

 

[hellywelly]

I don't agree with people planning for children they have no means to support but that's a whole other debate!

This is my most strongest argument blah11 I really really really really cannot stand people who are so bloody ignorant when having children - they think that everyone else can pick up the tab for them it absolutely disgusts me. I really don't blame people for claiming benefits when they fall under hard times, when their OH gets made redundant etc but to knowingly have a child knowing that they can't afford it that's ignorance in my view.

I do also blame the government for making it too easy for people to claim when having children but also blame them for not making child care either really really cheap or even free to enable mums to have more choices about going back to work.