No More Sure Start Mat Grant

lisabee

Having read on a baby forum and checking Direct.gov website it seems now that anyone who is due after 11th April wont get this grant....also if you do qualify but have child/children under 16 you STILL wont get it

Now whats confusing us is.... Lone parent advisors at the Job Centre have told some people that its a load of rubbish and it wont take effect as yet and to send in your form regardless - yet others have recived their letter from HMRC declinging the grant

So whats the deal? Seems to be a lot of confusion and this date cut off has appreared from nowhere

Any info????

AsknAnswer2

The law changed in January. It's here

cassieB57

For babies due on or after 11 April you cannot get SSMG if you already have another child in the same household aged under 16. SSMG is paid by the DWP Social Fund though, not HMRC, who pay child benefits and tax credits

lisabee

cassieB57 wrote: »

For babies due on or after 11 April you cannot get SSMG if you already have another child in the same household aged under 16. SSMG is paid by the DWP Social Fund though, not HMRC, who pay child benefits and tax credits

Ah ok now I know u cant get the grant due to having another child....which incidentally I do but never claimed for as at the time I didnt know it existed

I would have thought there would have been a loophole of somesort

If my baby came before 11th April couldnt they check if I recieved the grant for previous babies??

A lot of women I have spoke to who are having their 1st baby are losing out sometimes only by a day!

Just seems unfair

Thx tho

lisabee

That doesnt make sense if it was chnaged in January as some women have claimed it and have recieved the grant regardless of previous children!:o

AimeesMum_2

Hi Lisa,

I think you are getting confused.

If it is your first baby, regardless of when your baby is due you will qualify for the SSMG.
If your have other children under the age of 16, and your baby is due or born before 11th April 2011 you will still qualify.
If you have other children under the age of 16, and your baby is due or born after the 11th April 2011 you will no longer qualify x

AimeesMum_2

There is no loophole I'm afraid. If you are claiming child benefit for another child after the 11th April...you will be deemed inelegible as soon as they look at the form.

cassieB57

it is a cost cutting move-the assumption being, I suppose, that most people will already have baby stuff if it is not their first baby. (though not always)

DaisyFlower

Its not unfair as it was never open to everyone anyway. Pregnancy lasts for nine months plus any planning before hand for the child so plenty of time to provide the essentials by the parents.

Firevixen

Seems a little crazy for it to affect people with other children under 16. So a person with a a 15 year old will get turned down because they should have kept hold of the old baby bits for 15 years?! crikey

laalaa79

Just went to apply for this to now find out I am no longer entitled to it. I calculated that I could afford a 3rd child in July before falling pregnant and since then the govt have changes so many rules. I missed out in health in pregnancy grant of £190 by 1 week, missed out on sure start mat grant of £500 by 3 weeks, will no longer get baby element of tax credits so thats another £545 down. Add to this being made redundant when 16 weeks pregnant and missing out on cont based JSA as I had 3 months unpaid mat leave in 2008 it now means we are strugling to afford our 3rd planned child as the changes are made when I am already pregnant so feel so trapped now. My husband works and earns just over £16k so we dont get any help with CT, HB or any WTC.