Benefits & Baby Bond with a stillborn.

Dazzieboo

I am hoping someone can clarify something for me.

My 17yr old Daughter, very sadly gave birth to her baby Daughter far too early and she was stillborn, at the hospital the staff gave her a maternity certificate form and said she would still get some maternity benefit regardless of the fact she was under 18 and the baby dying, we hadn't expected this at all, so were surprised, we were also told my Daughter would get the £500 baby bond, which my Daughter had decided she would use for a headstone on the grave.

Today, we were told that she is entitled to nothing, no maternity benefit, no baby bond, now, I can understand the maternity benefit, but the bond? she gave birth to a baby, we had a certificate of still born, so the baby was viable, I know people who lost premature babies at a few hours old and got the bond, so why not for a stillborn.

Please dont think this is another money grabbing post, I had to delete a previous one when I merely asked what my Daughter was entitled to and got the keyboard warriors out in force, I would just like an honest explanation of what, if anything, my Daughter is entitled to. It is the baby bond which has upset her as she wanted the money for the headstone, but there are ways round it and the baby will still have her headstone regadless of if she has this money or not, thanks x

Spendless

Sorry for your loss. xx How many weeks pregnant was she? I don't know the answer to your question but have a vague feeling I've read somewhere about how many weeks old into the pregnancy may make a difference. I might have read it about registering a child though.

Have you tried looking on Sands?

http://www.uk-sands.org/home.html

mumofjusttwo

So sorry for your loss.


May I ask how many weeks pregnant when she gave birth as I think this my be how they determine if the family are entitled to funds.

[Deleted User]

I cant answer your question but couldnt read and run,you your daughter and family have my condolences at what must be an extremely sad time
john x

Spendless

Some info here. It seems 24 weeks into pregnancy is significant

https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/if-your-baby-is-stillborn

Dazzieboo

thank you, she was 26 weeks, a lot of the info we got from the hospital was from SANDS but it is only now, 6 weeks on, that we have found the inner strength to go through things.

marliepanda

I thought that was done away with (the child trust fund thing? I might be wrong but I can't find anything about a 'baby bond' that isnt the CTF)

In any case wasn't that intended to be a savings account starter for a child, which would be in a trust, rather than money the parent could use?

I may be totally off base and confusing the things, as you may mean the Surestart grant of £500? I believe thats a case of if your daughter were to have another baby she would be eligible despite it sadly not being her first baby (which would be how you would usually qualify)

Dazzieboo

Now you say it, it could be a sure start grant, I didn't get it with either of mine and my Daughter just refered to it as a baby bond, the hospital said she would be able to use it towards funeral costs etc etc, that is all paid for so we said the money could go for the headstone.

marliepanda wrote: »

I thought that was done away with (the child trust fund thing? I might be wrong but I can't find anything about a 'baby bond' that isnt the CTF)

In any case wasn't that intended to be a savings account starter for a child, which would be in a trust, rather than money the parent could use?

I may be totally off base and confusing the things, as you may mean the Surestart grant of £500? I believe thats a case of if your daughter were to have another baby she would be eligible despite it sadly not being her first baby (which would be how you would usually qualify)

marliepanda

It looks like she should be entitled to it, but you may have to claim for her if you still claim child related benefits for her?

http://www.nhs.uk/CarersDirect/moneyandlegal/socialfund/Pages/Maternitygrants.aspx

SandraScarlett

Like others on here, I couldn't read and run, and am so sorry your daughter experienced such a dreadful thing, and at such a young age. And I am so sorry too that the grandmotherly dreams, you must have had, never became reality.

I do hope your daughter gets some help towards her baby's headstone. I wish you and your family well.

xx

Shovel_Lad

marliepanda wrote: »

I thought that was done away with (the child trust fund thing? I might be wrong but I can't find anything about a 'baby bond' that isnt the CTF)

In any case wasn't that intended to be a savings account starter for a child, which would be in a trust, rather than money the parent could use?

I may be totally off base and confusing the things, as you may mean the Surestart grant of £500? I believe thats a case of if your daughter were to have another baby she would be eligible despite it sadly not being her first baby (which would be how you would usually qualify)

Child Trust Funds were for babies born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011.

https://www.gov.uk/child-trust-funds/overview