maternity grant!

[babydus30]

Hi ladies i was just wondering how long it took for people to get their grant? I sent mine off on monday and i rang today just to check they received my letter but the lady said theres nothing on the system yet? Im just wondering if my letter got lost in the post to them?

 

[kumber]

I think it took about a month? This was last year though so I can't fully remember

 

[Lulu90]

Is this the sure start maternity grant? I asked my friend as I know she got it, she said it took just over a week. They sent a letter saying it had been accepted and it was in her account the following day. Hope this helps xx

 

[Mary Poppins]

What grant is this please? Didn't know anything about one? Xx

 

[Mummybexee]

https://www.gov.uk/sure-start-maternity-grant/overview

 

[Mary Poppins]

Ah, not relevant to us then, but thank you x

 

[Emapot1]

It's time like this when even though I'm not eligible, we give Hmrc so much money in tax and vat, it makes me sick that we don't get anything back however we have to work every hour God gives. I am STILL trying to justify that. X

 

[Emapot1]

That comment doesn't suggest the system isn't fair for those who are elegible but there's a small bracket of workers that fall in the range of self employment where it's really unjustified for us not getting help or at least a little bit back from the government, iykwim. Xx

 

[Lulu90]

I agree with you completely Emapot xx

 

[Bunny432]

Yeah I agree , I work part time and don't qualify for this. Doesn't make sense to me x x x

 

[Mummybexee]

Sooner they ditch this the better

 

[Lulu90]

Why's that mummybexee?

My OH left me when I was 9 weeks pregnant, I have 2 jobs that I'll have to go back to ASAP after baby so I'm able to survive. I imagine there are loads of women in my position who couldn't bare to go back to work and need financial support, so would depend on this grant. So I completely disagree with 'getting rid of this'.

 

[kumber]

I lost my job just before I found out I was pregnant with ds. I couldn't get another job cus I started showing at 8 weeks (unfortunately it wasn't bloat or I may have gotten away with it!). I had to go on JSA and later income support, and with hubby a full time student with no jobs in the local area, the grant was an absolute godsend. Now I have a job and pay back into the system that saved our backsides. Without that grant I would have struggled to feed and clothe my child in his first few months of life. There certainly needs to be more support for self-employed parents but no way should the grant be stopped.

 

[Lulu90]

Well said Kumber!!!!!

 

[Bunny432]

No way should the grant be stopped!!! Even tho I don't get it I think it's so so helpful for people that do I just think the government should be a bit more helpful and help more so for working mum's that doth qualify - me and lulu were talking about this earlier it would encourage a lot of mums to go back to work x x x

 

[Mummybexee]

Because the whole system needs reforming. Too many people who don't need it get it and those that need help the most don't get it. I'm not saying people don't need help. With a husband who's self employed I know how hard it is. We've had to sell our house as a result of having a child. I just think there are far more beneficial ways of supporting parents in need ( like yourselves ) than a 1 off grant only available to your first child etc.

What happened if you were ok last time around but desperately needed help after a financial collapse a second time around? You wouldn't qualify etc because it's not your first born. That's unfair in my eyes.

I stand by my comment it needs scrapping. The whole maternity peice needs revisitng for mothers and their families

 

[Mummybexee]

Because the whole system needs reforming. Too many people who don't need it get it and those that need help the most don't get it. I'm not saying people don't need help. With a husband who's self employed I know how hard it is. We've had to sell our house as a result of having a child. I just think there are far more beneficial ways of supporting parents in need ( like yourselves ) than a 1 off grant only available to your first child etc.

What happened if you were ok last time around but desperately needed help after a financial collapse a second time around? You wouldn't qualify etc because it's not your first born. That's unfair in my eyes.

I stand by my comment it needs scrapping. The whole maternity peice needs revisitng for mothers and their families

 

[Lulu90]

I understand what you're saying, but I still don't agree. That grant helps so many women in truly awful situations, most of the time through no fault of their own. There are some lazy people out there that shouldn't be entitled and are, but you can't completely disregard the thousands of genuine women/families who need it!

 

[kumber]

I agree with Lulu. Also, once you've had your first child you are entitled to child tax credits, so you have an extra monthly income of £300 odd a month which you wouldn't have had before your first child. So it balances out.

 

[Mummybexee]

I'm not disregarding anyone. Esp families who need help. It just needs reform like it had a few years back- the whole system does which slowly is happening. I'm glad the grant helped you guys I really am. I just think there are better ways to help that's all