maternity grant..

[katiee24]

i sent off for the £500 grant 2-3 weeks ago & i keep ringing jobcentre to check.. apparently they still havent recieved the form :/.. my friend had problems to with them saying she wasnt entitled, so she sent it off again.. shes 39 weeks pregnant now!!.. im worrying that it wont come in time or before shes here.. and its to pay for her pram anybody else had this problem? or any ideas what to do? xx

 

[suzzi]

i thought theyd stopped the grant, what is it your applying for x

 

[rachcraig]

I thought it had been stopped too? xx

 

[stacey_lea86]

That's what I thought! xx

 

[Sarah13]

I thought this too!

 

[Jaxx01]

No you can still apply if its your first child I think?? well thats what I was told...any subsequent children you dont get anything lol xx

 

[stacey_lea86]

No you can still apply if its your first child I think?? well thats what I was told...any subsequent children you dont get anything lol xx

Surely you would need the money more if you're providing for other children

I Don't know how half of these schemes work! xx

 

[Jaxx01]

This is what it says on the direct.gov website.

'You can only get a Sure Start Maternity Grant if there are no other children under 16 years in your family'

doesnt make sense lol x

 

[jomc]

I was told it was abolished!

 

[Jaxx01]

You have to be claiming some kind of benefit though...are you guys not talking about the healthy start grant?? The £190 thats deffo been abolished!! But the £500 is still available for first time mums on benefits x

 

[Dee83]

It's called the Sure Start Maternity Grant, and is only for first time mums who are getting some kind of benefit. Due to ill health i do not work so am applying for this myself. I am going to take the form into the jobcentre and hand it directly to them as i know how these forms can get "lost in the post".
If i were you katie, i would call them to check again and if they still haven't received it i would print off another form, fill it in and take it to them at the jobcentre, that way you know they have it. xxx

 

[youngmummyd]

hi i took mine down on monday and directly handed it in and today i got my letter to say my £500 will be in my account on monday if i were you id get another copy of the form and take it directly into the office x

 

[stacey_lea86]

Ahhh, I don't know what's out there & who can get what. We don't get told anything over here! I Would also take it in directly if you can. At least you know they have got it! xx

 

[katiee24]

yes its for first time mums, if i were to hand it in to my nearest jobcentre they would only stick it in the post & send it somewhere else :/ we applyed for a social fund too just to help us that little bit more, sent that the same day & they recieved that.. now im wondering what to do :/ xx

 

[MrsHakaxjdx]

my friend is a first time mum who works, she wasnt entitled to it before she had the baby because she wasnt recieving any benefits. but now she had had the baby and getting child tax credits she is entitled to it, you can apply 12 weeks after babys birth x x x

 

[katiee24]

it says you can apply 11 weeks before babys due :/ i just hope they hurry there backsides up & tell me whats going on.. im worrying that baby wont have a pram on time :/ xxx

 

[Hunnie]

my friend is a first time mum who works, she wasnt entitled to it before she had the baby because she wasnt recieving any benefits. but now she had had the baby and getting child tax credits she is entitled to it, you can apply 12 weeks after babys birth x x x

Thank you for this information!! Id looked to apply for the surestart grant as £500 sounds very helpful but after looking through the check list to find out if you are entitled to it Ive found out that so far we are not! (the benefit system makes me soo angry ) However we will probably receive some child tax credits after the baby is born as I think most people are? So I'll have another look into it after that

 

[TiffanyJaynexo]

Thanks for the tip girls.
I have the forms all ready at my house and will be dropping them off at the job centre rather than sending them off!

And yes it's a grant for first time mums who are on benefits. I'm on income support.

Hope things get sorted out for you soon hun, that's a real pain in the bum :/ I'd definitely get some new forms if I was you xxx

 

[SunnyGirl]

Does maternity allowance count as a benefit?

Hope you get it sorted asap - how frustrating to be messed about like that xx

 

[Jaxx01]

No I think its the usual incomesupport, JSA, ESA you have to be on to claim x