sure start Grant

ady1979

Hi people,
i wonder if you can help me and my partner. We have a baby due May2011, We do not know if we are entitled to the £500 sure start grant? I have learnt that from apr2011 it is being changed to first child only. We have a son who is 10 but never claimed before as it wasnt around then, so unsure if we can claim or not?
I work full time, my partner who is now pregnant was made redundant and currently unemployed, we get working tax credits and also on the higher payment of child benefit so i know we would of been entitled to it previously (to the budget) but not sure now.

The pregnancy wasn't planned due to our current financial situation but now it has happened we always said we wouldn't have a abortion.

cassieB57

You can get a Sure Start Maternity Grant if you or your partner receive any of the following:

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit at a rate higher than the family element
• Working Tax Credit where a disability or severe disability element is included in the award

and if one of the following applies to you:

• you or your partner are pregnant and expecting a baby within 11 weeks or have given birth within the last three months
• you or your partner have adopted a child, or in certain circumstances have been granted a residence order for a child, within the last three months and the child is less than one year old
• you and your husband or wife have been granted a parental order for a surrogate birth within the last three months
• you or your partner are getting benefit for a dependant under the age of 20 who is pregnant and expecting a baby within 11 weeks or has given birth within the last three months

Duncombe

The rules are, as yet, unclear about whether or not the April 2011 date is a cut off for babies being born, or mothers passing the 29 weeks mark. I can not find confirmation anywhere.

If it is the former, your partner will not qualify because she already has a child - it makes no difference that she didn't claim it last time. If it is the latter, she may qualify if you fit the criteria which cassie has kindly provided above.

flea72

the actual cut-off date in april hasnt been announced yet, but as long as you are 29wks by 1st April, you are at least in with a shouting chance, so i would apply as soon as you are entitled to (march?)

the HIP cut-off date is 21st april, so i would assume the SSMG will prob be the same, with it also being due date that is used as the determining factor, rather than your gestation date, as at 21st april

F

ady1979

thanks kindly for the replies, i will try and ring the dwp on monday and post the outcome as soon as i find out, may help clarify for others.

AsknAnswer2

It's for any claim submitted after the date change.

ady1979

hi, not questioning your judgement ;-) but are u 100% sure on that.

princess1984

This would be interesting to know, I am due on 16th May 2011 but already have two children, would qualify if it's based on the above criteria.

Duncombe

flea72 wrote: »

the actual cut-off date in april hasnt been announced yet, but as long as you are 29wks by 1st April, you are at least in with a shouting chance, so i would apply as soon as you are entitled to (march?)

the HIP cut-off date is 21st april, so i would assume the SSMG will prob be the same, with it also being due date that is used as the determining factor, rather than your gestation date, as at 21st april

F

The HIP grant is being removed from 1st January 2011. Not April.

AsknAnswer2

ady1979 wrote: »

hi, not questioning your judgement ;-) but are u 100% sure on that.

Yes, I'm 100% sure on it. Unless anything changes between now and April, that it how it will work. But this is government where anything can change at the drop of a hat. Of course we'd be upddated if there are to be any changes.

flea72

Duncombe wrote: »

The HIP grant is being removed from 1st January 2011. Not April.

i was referring to the criteria for entitlement, ie your due date has to be before 21st April 2011 to be able to claim (ie you will then be the minimum 25wks pg)

the HIP is being withdrawn from 1st jan 2011, you can still claim after this date, if you fulfil the criteria

F