Sure Start maternity grant and other info.

Rox84

I have recently found out that I am pregnant. This is my first one, but I have been bombarded with information about money I may or may not be entitled to, and have become confused!!

Firstly, I know that I am entitled to the £190 Health In Pregnancy grant, so that's fine.

Secondly, two of my friends have mentioned the Sure Start maternity grant. After looking into it on the direct.gov website, it said that I am only entitled if I am on income support or similar. I am not. But my friends were both working full time right up until they gave birth and they both received it. Were they given this in error? I don't want to claim and then be asked to pay it back!

Also, in my understanding, once I have been on maternity leave for over 6 weeks, I will only receive SMP which (from what I can gather) is little over £120 a week. Does this mean that whilst on maternity leave I can claim help for my council tax and rent until I return to work?

I have never claimed benefit before, and I have never had a baby before! So any information would be extra helpful!!

Thank you in advance!

x

iamana1ias

I'd hold off planning anything till the Government's Budget on 22nd June. Entitlement and allowances could well be changing.

AsknAnswer2

Your friends must have been in receipt of child tax credit at a rate higher than the family element or working tax credit with a disability element attached - both of which you can get when you are working full time, if you meet the conditions.

You may need to wait until after your child is born, as you will have to apply for child tax credits before you can claim the SSMG if you are not receiving any of the qualifying benefits before you have your baby.

kazzys51

hi there i had the exact same problem i applied 4 times to be knocked back with no reason as to why but tried again when my baby was born (you have to do it b4 the wee ones 3 months) to get it no problem but you think that someone would explain this to you considering that you would be entitled to it anyway and whos really got the time to check through these things when you have a new baby but as already mentioned you have to be getting ctc higher than the family element x

BERFFRO

Firstly congratulations on the little one!

My partner is pregnant and we are about to apply for SSMG but have been told that because i work 16 hours a week we wont be entitled to it! But will be entitled to it after the baby is born when we will receive child tax credits. My advice is to wait if you can afford to and apply for it when you receive CTC, Well if SSMG will still be available then!