sure start Maternity Grant - can anyone help?!

Moonlight1971

Hi everyone

I've been advised to try and apply for this by my midwife as I'm 31 weeks pregnant but we've been having some severe financial difficulties caused by me losing my job in March and husband having to change jobs in April. We haven't even begun to start buying the things we need for the baby!

I sent the form off on 1 July - was given an envelope addressed to Wembley,London by my jobcentre (was a bit confused as I live in South Wales!). Two weeks on and have heard nothing. Was given a phone number for Social Fund enquiries in my area today, called up and was told they know nothing about me and have nothing on file.

The (unhelpful) guy on the end of the phone said that my form could either be lost or sitting around in a backlog somewhere, he had no idea and didn't seem that interested. He said it was up to me whether I send in another one or just wait it out, but usually this grant is paid out within 2 weeks - everyone else I know who applied at the same time as me has had their already.

So what do I do? Are the Social Fund experiencing a backlog in their "Wembley" office at the moment? Am really panicking now as there's less than 9 weeks till my baby's due and we have nothing ready! What are the chances of them losing TWO forms if I send another one in?

alwaysonthego_2

Its about helping people get their entitlement! Not about benefits policy!


This board is here for help and support for those on or looking to claim benefits, not for judgement.

Of course we all know the benefits system is a mess

Whatever you're political persuasion, we're all aware the benefits system is a mess. Whether its the malpayments of tax credits on one hand, benefit fraud on the other hand, or simply the fact that sometimes it doesn't pay to work - everyone has their grumble.

This board is here to help people with their money though..

Yet that isn't what this board is for. It's here to help people find out what they are entitled to under the current system, and to help them get it. Benefits do provide a lifeline for many, and this site is here to help people with their money, and not to judge. Of course, how to illegally defraud the benefits system shouldn't be discussed here, but ensuring you're getting your entitlement is exactly what its about.

Want to discuss the benefits system? Go to the discussion board

If you want to discuss the benefits system itself and issues around it, the appropriate place isn't here but the Discussion Board and even there, please remember courtesy and not to make it personal about anyone. This site's prime purpose it to help people with their money and I will always act to protect that.

Thanks for your co-operation

Martin

alwaysonthego_2

Op, you are best sending another form in, recorded delivery asap.

ClareEmily

OMG the abuse you get for asking a question, I would send another form in, and congrats on your pregnancy.

BTW to the other poster it is a one off payment of £500 to help people who have real financial difficulties.

Situations change, people lose their jobs, split up etc etc.

I am NOT getting this grant as luckily my hubby and I are both fully employed but at 29 weeks pregnant I am only just buying things for the baby now didn't want to buy things too early like tempting fate). If I suddenly lost my job though we would stuggle, yes in an ideal world we should all have a nest egg for baby, bit unrealistic though.

Good luck, we have borrow or have been given lots of baby items, you will be amazed how your family and friends will rally round.

newdawn_2

To the OP its is likely that you may not qualify until after the baby is born and CTC awarded. Unless you have Working Tax Credit where a disability or severe disability element is included in the award. As your partner works Im assuming you dont get one of the income related benefits like JSA or I.S.

Tell us more about your situation and I can advise you more.

Have you applied for your £190 health in pregnancy grant?

newdawn_2

Im assuming this is your first baby.....if not apply now and send it recorded.

ClareEmily

newdawn wrote: »

To the OP its is likely that you may not qualify until after the baby is born and CTC awarded. Unless you have Working Tax Credit where a disability or severe disability element is included in the award. As your partner works Im assuming you dont get one of the income related benefits like JSA or I.S.

Tell us more about your situation and I can advise you more.

Have you applied for your £190 health in pregnancy grant?

Oh yes forgot about the HIP grant, this has enabled me to buy my pushchair and I got this very quicky.

Moonlight1971

OMG what a rude, bigotted reply from the first poster!!

FYI "andyandflo":

1) We HAD saved up for the baby, sadly with me losing my job and husband being without a wage packet for over 2 months (due to a gap between finishing one job and starting another and having to wait a month to get paid) the money we'd saved up had to pay the mortgage, food and bills. I was not entitled to any JSA as I had been working part time and so the DWP (who I was, ironically workling for before my contract was not renewed just after I told them I was pregnant) claimed I haven't paid enouh NI contribs in the last 2 years.

2) For the last few months w'eve been scraping by on one wage and relying on family and friends. We are NOT benefit bunnies, have a mortgage and pay our way. But there hasn't been enough cash coming into save up or put anything aside for baby things and eat/pay the bills.

3) I've been lucky enough to receive lots of second hand baby things from kind friends and relatives. Some things however need to be bought new from a safety point of view such as a cot mattress, a car seat and so forth.

4) We are taxpayers too! What do you mean "The good old taxpayer"??!? What do you think my husband pays out every month?! What do you think I've been paying every month since I left school at 18?! Beleive me we've paid plenty into the system and never needed to use the benefits system before until now - we are just (finally) claiming back a little of what we've put in.

Anyway, forgetting the judgemental, rude people, thanks for your replies, I guess I will have to send another form in but worrying about the timescale now and also what will happen if THIS one gets lost in the post . . . is it really worth sending it Recorded Delivery???

pukkamum

Moonlight1971 wrote: »

OMG what a rude, bigotted reply from the first poster!!

FYI "andyandflo":

1) We HAD saved up for the baby, sadly with me losing my job and husband being without a wage packet for over 2 months (due to a gap between finishing one job and starting another and having to wait a month to get paid) the money we'd saved up had to pay the mortgage, food and bills. I was not entitled to any JSA as I had been working part time and so the DWP (who I was, ironically workling for before my contract was not renewed just after I told them I was pregnant) claimed I haven't paid enouh NI contribs in the last 2 years.

2) For the last few months w'eve been scraping by on one wage and relying on family and friends. We are NOT benefit bunnies, have a mortgage and pay our way. But there hasn't been enough cash coming into save up or put anything aside for baby things and eat/pay the bills.

3) I've been lucky enough to receive lots of second hand baby things from kind friends and relatives. Some things however need to be bought new from a safety point of view such as a cot mattress, a car seat and so forth.

4) We are taxpayers too! What do you mean "The good old taxpayer"??!? What do you think my husband pays out every month?! What do you think I've been paying every month since I left school at 18?! Beleive me we've paid plenty into the system and never needed to use the benefits system before until now - we are just (finally) claiming back a little of what we've put in.

Anyway, forgetting the judgemental, rude people, thanks for your replies, I guess I will have to send another form in but worrying about the timescale now and also what will happen if THIS one gets lost in the post . . . is it really worth sending it Recorded Delivery???

it may be worth filling in another form and taking it to your local benefits office personally, they will sign it to say they have recieved it and pass it to the relevant department.

Indie_Kid

pukkamum wrote: »

it may be worth filling in another form and taking it to your local benefits office personally, they will sign it to say they have recieved it and pass it to the relevant department.

I would also photocopy the form before sending it.

Sublime_2

Moonlight1971 wrote: »

OMG what a rude, bigotted reply from the first poster!!

FYI "andyandflo":

1) We HAD saved up for the baby, sadly with me losing my job and husband being without a wage packet for over 2 months (due to a gap between finishing one job and starting another and having to wait a month to get paid) the money we'd saved up had to pay the mortgage, food and bills. I was not entitled to any JSA as I had been working part time and so the DWP (who I was, ironically workling for before my contract was not renewed just after I told them I was pregnant) claimed I haven't paid enouh NI contribs in the last 2 years.

2) For the last few months w'eve been scraping by on one wage and relying on family and friends. We are NOT benefit bunnies, have a mortgage and pay our way. But there hasn't been enough cash coming into save up or put anything aside for baby things and eat/pay the bills.

3) I've been lucky enough to receive lots of second hand baby things from kind friends and relatives. Some things however need to be bought new from a safety point of view such as a cot mattress, a car seat and so forth.

4) We are taxpayers too! What do you mean "The good old taxpayer"??!? What do you think my husband pays out every month?! What do you think I've been paying every month since I left school at 18?! Beleive me we've paid plenty into the system and never needed to use the benefits system before until now - we are just (finally) claiming back a little of what we've put in.

Anyway, forgetting the judgemental, rude people, thanks for your replies, I guess I will have to send another form in but worrying about the timescale now and also what will happen if THIS one gets lost in the post . . . is it really worth sending it Recorded Delivery???

Just ignore them. People circumstances change regrettably. Hope all goes well for you.