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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To feel angry about maternity grants?

85 replies

HeffalumpTheFlump · 27/04/2013 11:24

I am certified unfit to work due to health problems, but my partner works full time. Because my partner works for more than 24 hours a week (regardless of wage) I am no longer eligible for my employment and support allowance. This means no housing benefit or any other financial help, so things are really tight. Once rent, council tax and other bills are paid we have little to no disposable income. We recently found out im pregnant (very shocked as we had been v careful and I have PCOS), the timing isnt brilliant as we had really hoped I would be in better health, a better financial situation etc when we started a family. We are really struggling to find the money for the endless list of things needed for the baby, and so I looked to see if there was any help available. AIBU to be cross that the £500 maternity grant is only available to people if they are on benefits? I know people who are having a baby after being on jobseekers for years, never making any effort to find work and are now having the bulk of their baby things paid for by the benefits system. It seems unfair when my partner is working very long hours for a crappy wage, we are trying to get by on a single income due to my crappy health and there is no help whatsoever. AIBU?

OP posts:

AlexReidsLonelyBraincell · 27/04/2013 14:46

Do Boots still do the free Changing bag if you join the parenting club? We had one and it was fine, it had a small changing mat in it too.

SisterMonicaJoan · 27/04/2013 14:47

Although Boots can be expensive you can get a free changing bag when you buy a pack of baby nappies (newborn ones are around £3?) when you sign up for their Parenting Club

www.boots.com/en/Mother-Baby/Parenting-Club/Join-the-Parenting-Club/

Good luck and congratulations! x

SisterMonicaJoan · 27/04/2013 14:50

Although Boots can be expensive you can get a free changing bag when you buy a pack of baby nappies (newborn ones are around £3?) when you sign up for their Parenting Club

www.boots.com/en/Mother-Baby/Parenting-Club/Join-the-Parenting-Club/

Good luck and congratulations! x

SisterMonicaJoan · 27/04/2013 14:50

X-posts Alex!

crikeybill · 27/04/2013 14:54

My Dh receives ESA and I work full-time ?
No one has ever suggested it should be stopped or that he isn't entitled to it ?

CajaDeLaMemoria · 27/04/2013 15:04

Crikey, is it contribution based ESA?

I believe the 24 hour rule is because 24 hours a week st minimum wage puts you over the income test.

If OP hasn't been paying Ni, and her partner earns over the income allowance, she wouldn't be entitled to it.

MummyWeatherwax · 27/04/2013 15:11

I have an unused boots changing bag you can have. We're in East London, but I'm happy to post. I also have some extra unused bibs, socks, toys and bits.(another one who over estimated what we'd need) PM me if you'd like any of them.

Bridgetbidet · 27/04/2013 16:07

Heffalump, can you PM me where you are because if you are close to me I may be able to pass some stuff on to you. I have ALL the gear for reusable nappies that I never used.

Incidentally things I wouldn't bother with -

Baby bath. I used mine twice, a washing up bowl is fine when they are a small and when they are big enough to sit up a bath mat and bath seat were better.

Sterilising stuff - I used a big 5 litre plastic click top container that I got from the pound shop and used this with cold water and a sterilising tablet, it was fantastic and I did not use any of the microwave sterilisers etc I was bought because this was the best way to do it I found.

Changing bag you don't really need either. You can just use a normal big bag and keep plenty of plastic bags on you.

I got bit plastic storage boxes for about £3 each from Morrisons which were brilliant for storage and stacked so they were great for space.

Changing mats - do you have old clean towels? You can just use them and bung them in the wash when they're dirty. Sometimes it's not necessary if the nappy is not a really dirty one.

Bridgetbidet · 27/04/2013 16:08

Oh you're in Essex. That's a little far from me, sorry.

PeppermintCreamsSaga · 28/04/2013 10:22

Check out your local facebook newly new pages, NCT sales, netmums noticeboards, local sellers on Ebay (no postage), gumtree, and freecycle.

Take a look at the money saving expert website. They have lots of info on tax credits etc, and their forums are a wealth of information on saving money with babies.

You may also be interested in this blog (she live on the isle of man):
www.theminimalistmom.com/2011/02/minimalist-guide-to-baby/

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