Sure Start Maternity Grant

Thrifter_2

Need some help here as I'm not sure if we are entitled to this...

We've recently had our Third child which coincidently arrived 2 weeks before I was made redundant. Our two previous children were born whilst both of us were working so we weren't able to claim the grant.

Now that we are both on Income-based Jobseekers allowance, having never claimed this grant and with our Third child only a month old - would we be entitled to this?

Can someone please clarify as I am getting mix-messages.

no-oneknowsme

Yes , you will be entitled to the grant , it is currently only payable for the first child in the family aged under 16 but as you didnt claim it for your older two children you will now be entitled to claim it for your new born as you are in receipt of income based jsa.

Have a read :

Who can get a Sure Start Maternity Grant?

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

• 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 on the date you claim:

• you or your partner are pregnant and expecting a baby within 11 weeks or have given birth within the last three months
• a dependent child you receive benefit for is expecting a baby within 11 weeks or has given birth within the last three months
• you are not the mother and have become the responsible lone parent of a baby no more than one year old
• you or your partner have been granted an adoption or a residence order for a baby no more than one year old
• you and your partner have been granted a parental order for a surrogate birth and the baby is no more than one year old
• you or your partner have been appointed the guardian of a baby no more than one year old
• you or your partner have had a baby placed with you for adoption by an agency and the baby is no more one year old
• you or your partner have adopted a baby abroad and the baby is no more than one year old

andi2

Sorry you won't qualify

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/DG_10018854

"
The rules for Sure Start Maternity Grant have changed for babies that are:

• due on or after 11 April 2011
• born on or after 11 April 2011
• adopted or in similar arrangements on or after 11 April 2011

The rules for your new baby and any other babies born at the same time

You can only get a Sure Start Maternity Grant if there are no other children under 16 years in your family."

no-oneknowsme

The OP did not claim the grant for his other children which means that it WILL be payable for the new addition to the family.

OP , I know this from personal experience so please dont be put off applying for the grant.

Maybe you could post back once you receive confirmation as it may help other posters in the future...

jetplane

Wow no wonder your confused the law states that you can not get a sure start maternity grant if you have another child under 16 it does not say anything about not claiming before.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/100/made there is an explanatary note at the bottom

no-oneknowsme was your child born after Aprill 2011 and did you have other children under 16 at that time?

If so then Thrifter put in for the grant you have nothing to loose by trying, but I suspect there was an error somewhere on no-oneknowsme's claim.

However I promise I will be very grateful if someone can post me the law that tells me I'm wrong.

Kimberley

You cannot claim if you have a child/ren under the age of 16 whether you claimed before or not. You can however claim if you have siblings under 16 in the same household.

lisanewman1980

Thrifter wrote: »

Need some help here as I'm not sure if we are entitled to this...

We've recently had our Third child which coincidently arrived 2 weeks before I was made redundant. Our two previous children were born whilst both of us were working so we weren't able to claim the grant.

Now that we are both on Income-based Jobseekers allowance, having never claimed this grant and with our Third child only a month old - would we be entitled to this?

Can someone please clarify as I am getting mix-messages.

Hi Thrifter,

I am in a very similar situation to you, although my third child hasn't been born yet. It is due 30th July. I was made redundant at the beginning of April and my husband is being made redundant tomorrow!! We were both in full time employment when our other two children were born and also weren't entitled to claim the grant. I have just been on the phone with my local jobcentre and the lady on the other end of the phone advised me to fill the form in and try to claim it as I hadn't claimed it before, even though the rules do state that you can only claim it for your first child she said get it filled in and let you know if I get it or not.

Lisa :T

JJT

Have you an update on whether you where successful with your claim? i am in the same situation and wondered if it was worth applying?

lisanewman1980

Hi,
I can't put my claim in until I'm 29 weeks, which is Monday, as soon as I hear something I'll let u know x

JJT

Brill thank you x

JJT

Just to let you know i submitted my application and have received a letter this morning to say they have declined it because my son is only 10 even though i didnt claim for him as me and my partner where still working. Not that i think it will get me anywhere but i am going to appeal!