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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

£190 Grant??

46 replies

sum04 · 02/01/2011 17:57

Can someone please tell me what this £190 grant is that i keep hearing about and also the healthy eating grant?
Thanks!!!

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lizandlulu · 02/01/2011 18:00

i think you get it when you reach 25 weeks, but aparently the government are fazing it out after januarySad

its only what i have been told tho, i might not be right

oggybags · 02/01/2011 18:05

hi - depends when youre due, you need to be 25 weeks by 1/1/11 to get it - your mw will give you a form which you complete & send off
see link for more info, hope that helps x

www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/HealthinPregnancyGrant/DG_173502

StickThemWithThePointyEnd · 02/01/2011 18:16

you have to be due on april 22nd or before, I think, and have been at least 24+1 (ie in your 25th week) on 1/1/11/.
I think this is what you're calling the healthy eating grant.

TotorosOcarnina · 02/01/2011 18:19

can anyone tell me whats going on with the £500 grant - is it still about and whats it called?

thanks

expatinscotland · 02/01/2011 18:20

That's still about, but you have to be on qualifying benefits and you can only claim it once, it's called a Sure Start Grant.

Original poster
sum04 · 02/01/2011 18:21

I just read up on the £500 grant and it is going to be changed from april 2011, to only first time mums being entitled to it.

OP posts:
TotorosOcarnina · 02/01/2011 18:23

I'm on benefits but not first time mum, is it only from april you have to be first timer?

am 22 weeks now so would be claiming before april x

StickThemWithThePointyEnd · 02/01/2011 18:24

you can claim sure start from 29 weeks, so I assume that if you get there before april, you should be ok.

TotorosOcarnina · 02/01/2011 18:26

yes will be 29 weeks before march, thankyou x

Sparklies · 03/01/2011 01:52

Even though my baby will almost certainly arrive before the 22nd April (love me some preterm labour issues!) I miss out by about two weeks as they only care about your due date. Grrr!

JarethTheGoblinKing · 03/01/2011 02:02

sorry for those who will miss out, but why should you get a grant just for being pregnant?

and to only get it in 3rd trimester? Seems pointless to me... My friends have referred to it as 'pram money' many a time Hmm

TransatlanticCityGirl · 03/01/2011 05:32

JarethTheGoblinKing completely agree. I was absolutely horrified when I found out about this grant last year... my colleague (who does not need this grant by any stetch of the imagination) claimed it and told me their midwife said it's supposed to go towards fruit and veg but actually it can be spent on anything they want.

And since fruit and veg is actually one of the cheapest things you can buy in a supermarket.... who really needs this grant for fruit and veg anyway???? (Besides people already claiming benefits who presumably are being responsible and spending their benefits money on healthy food already)

NancyDrewHasaClue · 03/01/2011 05:41

Jareth I agree. My MW told me about this grant in December, frankly I couldn't believe I was "entitled" to it (although I will be honest and admit I still claimed it Blush )

The money was paid direct into my bank account and I suspect will be spent on a nice meal out before the baby arrives....I'm not quite sure that is what the govt ought to be funding.

hazchem · 03/01/2011 09:55

Sorry as I work with people that really need the money i have to disagree with a few of the posters.

There is "Healthy Start" vouchers which I think Transatlantic is refering to when talking about fruit and veg money. Healthy Start Vouchers are about 3 pounds a week and are for people on very low income to ensure that the mother has enough money to eat properly during pregnancy. what ever your views are surly making sure an unborns child mother has access to fruit and veg isn't a bad thing.

the 190 is for "is to help you with your wider costs in the run up to your baby?s birth." so yeah something to transport the baby in, or sleep in or maybe buy some clothes and nappies. So it's warm and dry and can get about. dreadful i mean what a waste of money ensuring children are looked after.

AnytimeNOW · 03/01/2011 10:00

Hazchem great postSmile

NancyDrewHasaClue · 03/01/2011 10:10

hazchem there is also a "healthy start in pregnancy" grant. It is different to the Weekly vouchers that can be used to pay for fresh fruit and veg and seperate to the maternity grant which helps those on low incomes buy necessities for their babie. Both of these schemes are means tested and go to those who are most in need.

The 190 pound healthy start grant is a one off cash payment and is not means tested. I don't begrudge ensuring children are looked after - far from it. But TBH my DC's have more than they could possibly wish for and I can't help wondering why someone has deemed that I am "entitled" to it.

LDNlady · 03/01/2011 10:11

I have to say I can see where some of the posters are coming from. If you "need" the £190 then fine, I completely accept that you should be given it. If you're on benefits and have low income then it's totally understandable.

But come on! When I was first told about it the first thing I thought was exactly as someone else has mentioned "pram money" I don't need it, my husband and I are quite comfortable but we just saw it as a bit of extra cash and that we wouldn't need to spend our own money on a pram, car seat, baby/maternity clothes whatever. So, I now find out I am not entitled to it because of where I am in my pregnancy. The difference between me, and someone who needs it getting that news is that I am not now panicking about where I'm going to find the cash to buy my new pram. and if I'm not worried then I obviously didn't need it in the first place, it was a bonus.

wigglesrock · 03/01/2011 10:26

Well I didn't get it with dd1 and dd2 and have got it with this pregnancy. We are not comfortably off, we have a mortgage, rapidly growing children Grin, a very elderly car. We qualify for no benefits, get £65 a month tax credits and I slog for my £6.15 an hour cleaning job. The £190 has been a lifesaver this time. To be honest the only time I have heard the HIP grant being called a bonus or my favourite a "Boden bonus" is on Mumsnet!! Everyone I know who has got it has really needed it.

hazchem · 03/01/2011 10:41

Nancy - sorry the vouchers are the Healthy Start and the Health in Pregnancy is the 190. Direct Gov has great information on benefits.

LDNlady - It's correct that the Health in Pregnancy grant isn't means tested but you do have to apply for it. So if someone was in a postion where they felt they didn't need the 190 they could simply not post the form. I personally think that's a cheap way of means testing.

It's a real shame the grant is being phased out. I's much rather it was means tested properly so people on low income could have it. I know it would help my partner and I out.

spidookly · 03/01/2011 10:51

Interesting the number of people who felt it was ridiculous that they qualified for the grant but applied for it anyway.

Imarriedafrog · 03/01/2011 11:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NancyDrewHasaClue · 03/01/2011 11:09

hazchem sorry my mistake re the name.

The fact remains the same: if you are on a low income you receive vouchers for healthy eating and a lump sum for other baby related needs.

The 190 is given to everyone which I think is excessive.

spidookly there isn't really any "application" so to speak: My MW had the form and filled it in and I simply had to add my bank details and put it in the post. As I said earlier, I am happy people who need the money get it and whilst I don't need the money, I wasn't quite altruistic enough to turn down 190 when offered.

I'm not sure whether I should be Blush about that or not - I am a bit TBH and would certainly have had no complaints had it not been offered in the first place.

NancyDrewHasaClue · 03/01/2011 11:26

Imarried equally my MW handed me the form and said "treat yourself to a massage or something".

Imarriedafrog · 03/01/2011 11:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tlise · 03/01/2011 11:58

I am on low income and get the £3 per week for fruit/veg/milk.....tbh it goes nowhere so as usual most of my shopping budget still goes on that anyway. I think the HIP grant was a stupid idea, I still claimed it though, as I will the sure start grant. might not be my first child, but seeing as I don't even have so much as a baby gro for the baby, and the way prices are going up, at least this way with both grants I will have something for it to sleep in other than a drawer.....altho you know really, I shouldn't need it, because if I put the drawer on a skateboard, I would have a pram as well Grin.

I am glad I get the sure start one as when I had my baby's before it was a whole £100, I just missed the increase by a matter of days. Tbh though if the government wanted it spent on healthy eating, they should have issued it all in supermarket vouchers.

Has anyone seen the new idea though (going off the HIP very slightly) of giving £50 in vouchers on certain foods to encourage people to eat healthily? Big name companies are behind it apparently, all part of the governments drive to get us fat people off the streets lol. Which is ok unless you are like me and do all your shopping online. I already have to go out my way now to get my 4 weekly vouchers, in one week, on the bus, which defeats the idea as it costs me £5 in bus fare :(

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