maternity payment

[pinkcowprint]

hi,i have been told as i am pregnant i am entitled to a one off payment of �500/600 from the goverment for essential baby things,is this for ALL pregnant mothers or do you have to be on low income etc to get it?had a look on some advice sites but doesn't give any clear help.thanks.

[julie21dave]

www.surestart.gov.uk hope this helps just to let u know that i just had a baby and wasnt entitled because i earm to much pretty much goes on your postcode i live in a decent area so i didnt get it

[redcrx]

there are 2 amounts too i think, the lower being �300.

Not all mums get it, the only payment all mums get is Child benefit.

[ethanryan]

you only get it if you are on certain benefits. like income support or child tax credit. we get child tax and working family tax and even though we have a low income we we wasnt entitled to it

[pink-kittens]

This sure start grant is payable up to 3 months after your baby has been born and 11 weeks before or at any period during these 2 dates.

You need to be in reciept of certain benefits: Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance,
Child Tax Credit at a rate higher than the family element,
extra Working Tax Credit relating to a disability, or
Pension Credit.

Now you may not be entitled to TC before the birth of your child, BUT when calculating TC they do not and cannot take into account your maternity pay. This means you MAY be entitled after you start Mat leave even wif you weren't before.

You can download the claim for here:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/advisers/claimforms/sf10 0_print.pdf

[pink-kittens]

Oh, forgot

It's got nothing to do with postcodes!

[pink-kittens]

*b* BUT when calculating TC they do not and cannot take into account your maternity pay */b*

Sorry, discount this bit, it's child maintenance they don't consider when working out TC - however, you may be entitled after you stop work as your wages will drop. It's worth asking, the worse they can say is No

Best of luck

[warpig3]

I applied a few weeks ago and was refused because I was not in receipt of income based JSA. The lady at the job centre advised me (as pinkkittens says) to wait until the child is born then apply for tax credits then the sure start maternity grant, this apparently makes a difference as opposed to applying before the birth.

Good luck.

[pink-kittens]

It certainly does warpig

It's because you will then have a child to claim for - aBIG difference when claiming TC

[warpig3]

Its crazy isn't it pink kittens, I would never have know if the lady hadn't mentioned it, funny think is that when I was refused I rang the help line and no one there told me to reapply after the birth.

[natalie_1982]

I never knew that WP!
I phoned the helpline and they too told me I wasn't entitled, and that they couldn't predict for next year. I was never told to ring back after the birth. It's no wonder there are so many unclaimed benefits in this country.

[warpig3]

nat, I was gobsmacked when she told me and couldn't understand why this had not been explained to me on the phone (or in the refusal letter), neither could she. Maybe they are on some sort of commission!!!! Now when I have to ring about anything I write down their name and a brief transcript of the conversation in my diary, then ring that person back if I need to, I find they are more likely to be helpful if they know you know who they are.

That said, I fully expect to be refused again but at least I now know that I can reapply and when is the best time to do so.

[Psychick]

Hi ladies, for some reason they will not tell you of ANY benefits or payments you are entitled to, whether youre pregnant or not. Apparently theyre not allowed to give you information until you actually apply for something! How true this is, Im not sure, but it certainly seems to be the case in my area.

[natalie_1982]

That's exactly what happened to me Psy (I'm in South East), but the problem I (and probably countless others face) is how am I supposed to calculate whether I can afford to return to work part time or full time, how many hours I can afford in child care, if I have to go back full time - how I will work my hours out, etc etc. Blooming nightmare, she wouldn't even give me a ball part figure doing a rough calculation as to if I had the baby in April 07 and was due to be working now i.e. one yeard ahead of myself.

[warpig3]

that makes sense and I bet I can quess why, psychick. They wont tell you unless you apply, so you must give all your details on the claims form (info that they will retain even if unsuccessful), hopeing this would discourage fraudulent claims. Bet it doesn't tho' as those making fraudulent claims know the system, how it works and how to by-pass it, whilst silly sausages like us are left floundering because of our lack of knowledge.

[pink-kittens]

Good thing though is you can apply for this over the phone once you become entitled to TC

Nat, I too am in the SE and I called on a monday, signed the form sent to me on tuesday, got my check on thrusday

My advice to anyone who thinks they may be entitled to benefits is apply for the lot! They the worse they can say is no

V V Quick :)