November 09 - solids and crawling underway but sleepless nights still here to stay!!

[scarlotti]

New and shiny thread

SirB if you're not working, are you not entitled to free prescriptions?

Ethan crawled tonight for the first time! Still no teeth here either. Clapping hands and saying "hiya"

Have read everyone's posts but I'm so tired I can't remember what I meant to say! Bedtime for me...

Hope all is well!

SirB sorry to hear you're feeling rough again. Check out this website here especially paragraph 8 which gives information on how to get financial help with nhs charges including prescriptions if you're on a low income.

Juicy if you search on rearward facing group 1 seats you'll find some. All seats sold in this country for group 1 are forward facing, but there is one company that imports them in from elsewhere. Can't remember it off the top of my head. Graco and Britax sell them abroad, and advertise them as safer

SirBoob I'm sure you will get free prescriptions. Even when I was working and DH was a SAHD, we qualified for them. I don't think it would do you any good to come off either set of medication if you need them.
Have you applied to get your child tax credits etc? You will be entitled to a lot more money now that you have a child, which will hopefully make things less stressful.
Did you have any luck with looking for a flat or have you decided to stay where you are for the moment? Maybe you could go somewhere such as the Citizen's Advice Bureau to find out exactly what you are entitled to for everything. (Sorry if I'm being bossy! I just hate the thought of you not being able to afford essential medicine)

DWB Well done to Ethan for crawling!

Longway I feel your pain! James still feeds loads at night. He's still in our room, so harder to ignore!

Did anyone watch that programme on getting kids to sleep the other night? I wanted to watch it... but was getting my kid to sleep! Any interesting conclusions? Is it worth watching on iplayer?

Ninja Camp Bestival sounded great, hope you enjoyed it. Did Alfie go too?

Oh we are off on our holidays tomorrow! A week at my mum and dad's by the sea, then 10 days in London.

Any suggestions in London for the Under 5s?? We've taken them a few times, but normally to see family so we don't really do the sights etc. I am bracing myself for managing the underground. Do you think putting James in a sling is best for days out? (Not sure how long we can carry him for though!)

The boundary for prescriptions is a household income of £15,000 or so. Have you got your tax credits? You will also be able to get child benefit and housing benefit (and council tax benefit if you get your own place), and perhaps DLA? ESA is harder to get as you have to keep going back for sicknotes, but could be worth a try. There are also vouchers for milk, veg and vitamins that you should have been getting since you got pregnant.

AFAIK, your parents income doesn't count as your household income for these purposes (I got income support when pg with dd1 and living at my mums).

SB Some good advice there. Hope you can get things sorted out. If it feels like a minefield, you may be able to speak to someone at your LA to guide you through.

Laugs A sling is best if you're using the underground. If you have a light weight pushchair (umbrella fold style) that you of your DH can hold, would be worth taking too. Battersea Park Zoo is meant to be good. Never been before. The various museums, the science one good for kids. Hyde park has events through the summer too. Hope that helps.

Laugs I was going to be meeting a friend at Coram's Fields on Sunday. Not now but am definitely going to remember it for next trips to London. Enjoy your hols!

SirB good luck with all the advice.

We are finally all better here after me, then Rosa, then DH and even then my mum, who was visiting all being ill! Was quite a week.

ninja amazing pics of you and the family at Bestival. You are one cool mummy!

Thanks guys You lot really are wonderful, do you know that? I thought I wasn't entitled to CTC because I haven't worked, though? And I didn't get the milk / fruit / veg vouchers because I was over 18 when I was given the forms.

For now, flat hunting is on hold - I have been calling up properties every time the property magazine comes out, and looking in Right Move, but there are no new ones this week and they all turned me down last week. Next week, fingers crossed!

Laugs there are some routes which are disabled accessible, so if you try and stick around those you should be able to use a buggy. Not sure what use that is though The V&A has lots of child based / interactive exhibits.

MissI am glad you're all better

I think everyone is entitled to CTC Sirboob, you should be entitled to that being that you have a child I dont think it takes work into consideration at all. Working Tax Credits is a different one which I think you have to work a certain amount but not totally sure about that one. Am annoyed about my Child Tax Credits, as after one letter, and numerous phone calls and answer-phone messages they still havent added Annabelle on. grr!

From what I understand SB, Juicy is correct about the CTC Qualify It gets confusing. Maybe phone them. You should also receive some back pay from Nov when B was born. Also, you can apply for the free milk/fruit tokens on this site, you may still qualify if you're on benefits and child is under 4.

I think its only 3 months back pay tho, which is why im getting annoyed that its already taken them way over 3 months to sort it out.

That's terrible Juicy Hope they get things sorted for you. They record the telephone conversations, you could try and appeal it if they muck you about with the back pay.

They had a recorded conversation of mine when I had DS1. They had overpaid us by a huge amount for WTC and had put me down as £0 earnings, even though I had clearly told them my earnings . They would not take the money back, instead took it out of my future payments. So basically I'm only just clear of this overpayment 5 yrs down the line!

www.entitledto.co.uk

Seriously. Now. I can't beleive nobody has told you that you can get ctc and healthy start! You DID get the £500 maternity grant when he was born didn't you? I think you may be missing out on hundreds of pounds a month.

Please tell me that, if your parents are charging you rent, you are claiming housing benefit for that?

Ooh, it makes me angry how hard it is to sort out benefits!

CTC replaces the child element of income support- EVERYONE on a low income is eligable.

Have you looked into disability benefits? If it affects your ability to work, you should get them.

Thanks for the fab London ideas. We went to the Princess Diana Memorial Garden last time, which was great, so hope to return there too. I got a disabled tube map, it says Kings Cross has disabled access - ha! - I suppose we must be spoiled in the provinces. People always offer to help though so I'm not too worried.

Sorry to hear you've been refused flats SirB. That seems very unfair. I think you should be getting CTC too, but the system seems really complex. I remember Nick Clegg in the election ranting on about how even he was entitled to CTC, so it would seem strange if you weren't. Even if not, other benefits might increase due to you having a child? Oh, and if you call CTC now, don't be put off if you can't get through - the deadline for completing last year's forms was last week, so they're probably inundated. Personally, I'd go and speak to someone who can work out - in person - exactly what you're entitled to. Sure Start have these kind of drop-ins all the time. If you speak to someone in a call centre, they'll probably only be knowledgeable about their own area, not the whole benefits system.

I'm glad you're all better MissI

JuicyLips that's so annoying, I hope you get it sorted soon. We missed out on loads of child benefit, but that is because I forgot to send the form in

Oops x-posted with BPB who clearly knows more!

Seriously, Sirboob, I reckon, by my back of an envelope calculations, you should be getting £60-odd CTC, £40-odd ESA, £20-odd child benefit, £6-odd healthy start vouchers, maybe about £50 DLA, plus housing benefit to pay any rent, every week. If you are not getting all this, get applying as you can usually get some back pay.

I thought you had a social worker? I'm really angry on your behalf.

I got the maternity grant - didn't get any money when he was born. Was I supposed to? The money I give my parents is out of my DLA. Doesn't look like I can get the healthy start because I'm not on the right benefits. I did just call the tax credit people a few times but all their operators are busy, apparently... Will call back later.

Was told I couldn't get CTC because I haven't worked. Though would the fact DP works affect it, though we don't live together? Or the fact I live with my parents, despite the fact they don't pay for anything for me?

Have been told not to apply for IS as any money DP gives me for Bryn will be taken off it, and leave me worse off.

Am very confused now

Laugs :D I studied social policy, plus I am a dirty scrounger and a Labour Party member, I take a personal interest in these matters.

Who told you about the CTC? I'm sorry, but I think that is rubbish. WTC is for workers. CTC is for the child, it isn't his fault you have never worked!

You should have had £190 healthy pregnancy grant while pregnant and £500 surestart maternity grant when he was born.

You WILL get healthy start, if you are on CTC (which you will be) and not WTC, you are eligable.

You can get HB for the rent you give your parents. You are a non-dependant adult living in their house, if they were claiming HB themselves they wouldn't be allowed to count you- they would have to charge you rent.

Living with your parents shouldn't affect anything at all- you are over 18, you just count as a lodger basically.

Do that calculator on entitled to- that should give you an idea. It was that calculator that told me we could get some HB even though we work.

If it was anyone official who told you about CTC, I would seriously kick off at them. They have left you without the money you should have been getting!

Oh, and you can try the entitled to website out several times with different figures, if you want to do a what if...

Hi All!

Laugs Have a great holiday. Hampton Court is fab for a day out. I'd second the lightweight pushchair idea - I got mine a couple of months ago and couldn't live without it now.

SirB Sorry to hear it's back again. Hope you get things sorted. And amazing, Bryn waking upstairs!

DWB Yey for the little boy!

Sorry to hear about poorly babies. Hope the rashes clear up soon and teeth start making their appearance.

Lucy's second tooth poked through Saturday night. And yesterday she started saying mummmmmma mummmmma in addition to the babababa dadadada tatatata. She waves and laughs at herself in the mirror and remembers where the mirror is. I think this is the cutest time for the babies, isn't it? They are so active, changing and learning so much and so full of bouncy joy.

Saying that, I think she also is starting to show more and more separation anxiety... Does not like to be left on her own.

SIrB don't be embarrassed. Everyone finds these things complicated and confusing (I think they do it deliberately). It sounds like you are entitled to a lot more than you are claiming though. That money DP gives is for Bryn, not you, so I'm sure it shouldn't effect your personal entitlements.

Why not contact one of these local groups so someone can go through it all with you in person?

Brighton and Hove Citizens Advice Bureau
A service which offers advice and assistance on any subject and has specialists in money advice and welfare benefits.

Contact details
Address:Brighton & Hove Citizens Advice Bureau,
1 Tisbury Road,
Hove
BN3 4AH
Telephone: 0845 120 3710

Knoll Advice Centre
Free, local, confidential advice on welfare benefits and debt problems. Helps with form filling and letter writing. Home visits arranged if necessary.

Contact details

Address: St Richard's Church & Community Centre
Egmont Road
Hove
BN3 7FJ
Telephone: 01273 410838

St Luke's Advice Service
A local service that helps people complete their benefit forms.

Contact details
Address: 64 Old Shoreham Road
Brighton
BN1 5DD
Telephone: 01273 549203
Email: [email protected]

Laugs I agree. They make it complicated so less people claim. About ten times as much money is not paid out that people could have than is lost in fraud, apparently. But they put those adverts up everywhere to scare people.