Is the government scrapping the health in pregnancy grant?

[JosephineClaire]

That's pretty much it...

I did wonder why it wasn't done in voucher form... it'd make far more sense

Still...IF it's still around in 8 weeks, I won't be turning it down as my budget is still super tight!

Vouchers stigmatise people; years and years ago now DH was amde redundant when I was 38 weeks pg: we got milk for the few weels ebfore DH found more work but we couldn't get the local upermarkets toe ver accept it without an embarassing fuss that always involved DH being told to get a job and me being asked why I was having babies on benefits (are people's imaginations really so limited? one woman on a helpline even said i should go back to work and end my mat leave before the baby arrived- er what?)

I guess that's why vouchers are unfashionable; also internet shopping and palces in really rural areas often decline them.

But if every pregnant women in the country got healthy start vouchers instead of a cash payment the stigma would be removed, making it less for people on benefits too

And if there was that kind of widespread use of them more retailers would sign up

What littleducks said. After all, I don't feel stigmatised for using my maternity exemption card for prescriptions which is a similar kind of thing.

Its surely a poor use of money to dole out pregnancy grants and child trust fund payments to everyone.

I would prefer this money either to be targeted where it will be of real benefit or used to help pay off our huge national debt.

Originally there was a plan to pay Child Benefit from 28 weeks, and then it was changed to giving a lump sum.

I think the first idea was better but I really don't understand the hostility to any principle of universal benefits from people on here. I didn't get it but I'm in favour of others getting something - there are probably more women who do really need it than those who don't.