sure start maternity grant UPDATE

[susant23885]

Came across this thread and thought I would share.....

I trawled the benefit offices with my sister yesterday after her relationship broke down long and short of it is .... her ex-fella had been claiming all in sundry for them although my sister works 15hrs a week. So we had a job on trying to work out exactly what he had been claiming and cancelling all claims as she has moved back to my parents with her 1yr old DD (she is also currently 16wks pregnant!) We also got info on what she can claim herself. We spoke with a really nice lady esp considering my sister is pregnant we wanted to find out what help if any she is likely to get and she confirmed once my Sister hits 29wks she will be able to claim the SSMG even though she has a 1yr old DD (she didnt get SSMG for her as she was then in full time work). I pointed out the facts you Ladies have stated on this thread as I had already previously looked into for her and told her I didnt think under the new rules she would qualify but the lady at jobcentre was adamant that even though she has a 1yr old DD and her EDD is 5th August she will get the full 500.00. She said that they had had so many enquiries about this and had had it confirmed from `high` management that the changes are not going to take effect despite the stories circulating. She was a lone-parent advisor so specialises in this area. She gave my sister the form to get sorted once she is 29wks.

mmmmmmmmmmmmm very confuddled to say the least!

I didn't get mine, and I have never received it for my other two and when I phoned they said that it doesn't matter if you haven't claimed before as long as you have a child under 16 already and are due on or after the 11th April x

 

[N1kki]

i got mine and bubs is due 6th april,the advisor i spoke to were adamant after 11th april the new rules will be taking effect.

 

[susant23885]

i got mine and bubs is due 6th april,the advisor i spoke to were adamant after 11th april the new rules will be taking effect.

The new rules are already in effect as I am due on the 11th April I can not get it, I was told if I have the baby before then I can claim again but my hubby has started to work now so not entitled now anyway x

 

[miss cakes]

i got mine and bubs is due 6th april,the advisor i spoke to were adamant after 11th april the new rules will be taking effect.

because your baby is due before 11th april anyone due after that wont get it unless its for first child x

 

[lisabee]

After my previous postings and the amount of confusion this has caused I decided to contact Citizens advice

They told me for us due after 11th April we wont get it if baby comes before then and u have a child under 16 u still wont get it and infact the rules were changed in January, it doesnt come from HMRC as someone mentioned but from the Sure Start Fund which is now becoming defunct

So either way ladies we are screwed - gutted to say the least but what the hell are we to do!!! This should have been publicised much better than it has been another cockup from the goverment - oh and has anyone seen our PM lovely new 200k Jag???? Am sure the grant as well as all the other tax cuts have went and paid for it

Whole thing pisses me off instead of clearing the deficit there are gonna be so many people trying to screw the system even more than before simply because they cant live - I know so many do it and it is unfair to us people who have worked their asses off but cant help feeling sorry for those who are gonna really struggle (rant over)

 

[PeanutBean]

We could all write to our MPs.

 

[lisabee]

We could all write to our MPs.

We could but doubt very much it would make a difference u just cant win with the government

The thing that gets me is if like who has children under 16 I didnt claim this grant I never knew it existed - noone ever mentioned it

But if my baby came before 11th April then I would have thought they could have checked to see if I had claimed for previous babies - I would have thought they had some sort of system in place for that but apprently they dont, Ok we get it easy compared to other countries who get nothing really even the Mat leave is only 12 weeks but just seems as if we have had this whipped from beneath our feet if it was publicised better then most of us could have prepared for it a bit better instead we are left feeling

It sucks

 

[PeanutBean]

It does suck and since June there have been changes planned to the grant but there was no info given out until the 24th Jan. It's disgraceful. We weren't eligible last time but this time we are because of child tax credits. I didn't even apply last time.

You're right we can't win against this government but we can lobby our MPs, vote them out next time and generally make their rich lives miserable!

 

[leanne4stars]

what about the ladies who are due before the 11th april but are late and end up giving birth after the 11th?????? would they still get it? or have to pay it back if already had it?????

 

[PeanutBean]

Nope they get it. Most arbitrary system in the world. Except CB going for single incomes over £40k. Oh and the whole new disability allowance rules... Oh and...

 

[faerieprozac]

Can anyone help me with a query?

I'm not due until end of October. This is baby number 1, so theoretically I am entitled to this, BUT, OH's daughter who will be 7 then from a previous relationship lives with us, so although I'm about to have baby number 1, this is baby number 2 for him and she lives under our roof, will this stop me being entitled? I will be receiving SMA as I work, we already receive available tax credits, but i only work part time, so my SMA won't be much anyway. It's not a big deal if we're not entitled to it, I have plenty of family who will hopefully be able to give us hand me downs, but it would be nice...

 

[Gemie]

Can anyone help me with a query?

I'm not due until end of October. This is baby number 1, so theoretically I am entitled to this, BUT, OH's daughter who will be 7 then from a previous relationship lives with us, so although I'm about to have baby number 1, this is baby number 2 for him and she lives under our roof, will this stop me being entitled? I will be receiving SMA as I work, we already receive available tax credits, but i only work part time, so my SMA won't be much anyway. It's not a big deal if we're not entitled to it, I have plenty of family who will hopefully be able to give us hand me downs, but it would be nice...

No if she legally lives with you then you won't get it unless she's over 16

 

[faerieprozac]

That is rather silly Missing out on it even though I've not even had a baby! lol. Meh... If my ancestors could manage then so shall I.

Thank you xx

 

[wigglebump]

Can anyone help me with a query?

I'm not due until end of October. This is baby number 1, so theoretically I am entitled to this, BUT, OH's daughter who will be 7 then from a previous relationship lives with us, so although I'm about to have baby number 1, this is baby number 2 for him and she lives under our roof, will this stop me being entitled? I will be receiving SMA as I work, we already receive available tax credits, but i only work part time, so my SMA won't be much anyway. It's not a big deal if we're not entitled to it, I have plenty of family who will hopefully be able to give us hand me downs, but it would be nice...

hi there you would be entiltled i think as your oh's daughter you didnt give birth to her so i dont see why you wouldnt get it as when you fill the form out it will ask if this is your 1st baby and your answer will be yes so i dont see why you wont get it xx i would call and ask because its your 1st pregnancy glxx

 

[emilyjade]

i dont think you would get it hun because you'd be classed as a family as you have taken OHs daughter on x

 

[PeanutBean]

Sounds like you should just apply and see what happens!

 

[MrsBandEgglet]

I would apply anyway, does seem silly that you wouldn't get it to me