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Original poster

sure start grant cut...i now have nothing for my unborn baby

268 replies

witter · 12/02/2011 13:19

Hi everyone,,,
I'm looking for some advice as i dont know what to do anymore just as i get back on my feet something else seems to knock me back down.

Does anyone know is there any help out there as ive missed the sure start grant and now have nothing for baby due in april 2011.

I had to claim income support late last year as my partner left us and i was not working so had no income what so ever.
I have recently gone self employed and dont really have much income at the moment with starting up and everything.
I am due to have another baby in april 2011 but i have nothing i was told i could claim a sure start grant months ago but when i went into the jobcentre they said no first child only now.
I do have another child who is 1 year old but have never claimed this before as myself and partner worked before.
I have a few bits that baby could use but my son is still in his cot and only have his buggy now which i use for him as he cant walk the next baby is a girl so dont have mamy clothes either nether mind bottles, blankets, or anything else.
i really dont know where to turn next..i cant claim a loan because i need to be claiming benefits.
is there anything at all i could do??
thanks for reading xx

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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kormachameleon · 12/02/2011 13:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CharlotteBronteSaurus · 12/02/2011 13:22

freegle
i just gave away a moses basket and some newborn clothes. check your boards daily.

londonmackem · 12/02/2011 13:22

Babies don't care what colour their clothes are so i wouldn't worry about that. Why have you no bottles or blankets from your first child?
Ask your partner to pay

monkey9237 · 12/02/2011 13:23

Is your ex-partner paying any maintenance??

NancyDrewHadaClue · 12/02/2011 13:27

The obvious choice would be to speak to your ex partner about supporting his child.

In the meantime what is your employment?

Can't you claim tax credits?

MumInBeds · 12/02/2011 13:35

if your older child is 1 don't you have stuff from him or her left over? Do you go to any mums and tots or the like, I always found people there happy to give away out-grown stuff if someone else needed them.

MoonUnitAlpha · 12/02/2011 13:40

Freecycle and try Netmums for things being given away free.

Have the baby in your bed, breastfeed and try to get hold of a sling so you don't need a double buggy?

earwicga · 12/02/2011 13:45

Charity & thrift shops. Freecycle.

Original poster
witter · 12/02/2011 13:48

Nope he pays nothing will turn up when he feels like it to see his son and thats about it.
i did plan to use the sure start grant as citizens advice advised i would be entitled to it and didnt have any other source.
i have just started making bags to sell on ebay and other small items but am not making much of an income off it at the moment.
i have avon lady coming to sign me up with them next week aswell.

if i could just return to a normal job i would do but i wouldnt be able to afford any childcare and dont have anyone to look after him.

OP posts:
Alibabaandthe40nappies · 12/02/2011 13:50

Your ex should be financing things if it is his baby, what are your arrangements about maintenance?

Freecycle.

Breastfeed and then you won't need any bottles or to pay for formula.

onimolap · 12/02/2011 13:53

I'm surprised at CAB, the £500 has always been a one-off grant for first child - no cuts there, thought the universal £190 is on its way out.

As well as the places to look that other posters have mentioned, also ask around absolutely all the mummies you know - there's bound to be some with stuff they no longer need and they may be happy to pass it on free to a good home.

Georgimama · 12/02/2011 13:56

You don't need bottles or a sterilizer if you breast feed. Enough vests and sleepsuits for 0-3 months would cost about £15 in Tesco.

Otherwise charity shop and freecycle as others have suggested. Oh and CSA to make your ex pay for his child.

MoonUnitAlpha · 12/02/2011 13:58

Are you not getting any tax credits?

Poppet45 · 12/02/2011 14:01

Another vote for breastfeeding. Why would you pay for an inferior product, when the best food for your baby is free? it will also save you money in terms of needing fewer docs appointments, medicines etc! And try Freecycle, Gumtree and eBay for other baby bits. And another vote for baby won't mind what colour its clothes are. And yes, call the CSA!

beckie90 · 12/02/2011 14:47

what date in april are you due witter.

im the exactly same situation at the moment too i applied for it as job center said there hadnt been a change in it when i picked up my form, but then i recieved the letter back sayin i couldnt claim unless i had my baby early. its daft

Georgimama · 12/02/2011 14:49

Am I the only one wondering how people who now consider themselves to be on the bread line without this £500 handout are going to cope with funding the next 18+ years of their child's life? They only get more expensive.

expatinscotland · 12/02/2011 14:51

'it will also save you money in terms of needing fewer docs appointments, medicines etc!'

How is that? To breastfed babies not get ill? It's a myth that bottlefed babies fall ill more.

lindy100 · 12/02/2011 14:56

Charity shops - buy ahead where you can - I have bought lots of really nice dresses (Next, Boots, Fatface, Laura Ashley) for less than £2 each - most nearer to £1.

mamadiva · 12/02/2011 14:57

Georgie the OP is trying to be as self sufficient as possible so whilst I do see your point I fail to realise how your comment is helpful to this thread.

Onimilap the grant ahs been given to most people regardless of how mnay children they have had this has only just recently changed.

OP- You don't really need much, just the essentials. Don't be afraid to ask on here/Freecycle/Netmums as second hand is just as good fro baby.

Do you have any budget at all? Where abouts are if ou don't mind me asking?

I know Ikea do cots for £34 if you ahve one nearby and you can get blankets/sheets/grobags from there too or 2nd hand.

I would speak to your ex and tell him if he does not start paying something towards his children then you will go down the CSA route.

LilQueenie · 12/02/2011 14:59

are you able to get healthy start vouchers? These are not just for the first child. You can get free veg, milk and formula with them. Also freecycle, charity shops and preloved.co.uk are good too.

Georgimama · 12/02/2011 15:01

I can see that she is trying to earn some money, but I still fail to see how £500 was going to make anything other than a very short term difference to her situation.

She needs to get in touch with the CSA and also get on entitledto.gov and see what she can get - working tax credit, child tax credit etc.

tlise · 12/02/2011 15:02

Its not advised to have baby in your bed. I know before some say that they have always done it and baby is fine. Its not advised and there is always a first time that it isn't fine and has a tragic ending.

Not everyone can breastfeed, but you can get cheap bottles in places like wilkinsons, and you don't need a steriliser, you could always boil the bottles for 10 minutes in a large pan. Works just as well.

If you can't get the sure start but are on a low income you may be entitled to sure start vouchers for milk etc which you can use for babys milk afterwards if you are bottle feeding.

If you haven't enough money coming in, you really need to go back to the job centre and talk to someone who can advise you on the best course of action.

And op, we don't know the posters circumstances. its easy to be judgemental, baby might not have been planned and contraception isn't 100%. 2 of mine weren't and it wasn't as though I was even in a happy marriage. I get where she is coming from. if you have no money, its a lot to buy all in bulk in one go. The rest of the 18 years will be paid as they go along.

wannaBe · 12/02/2011 15:04

so you were reliant on a one-off payment? How were you planning to fund the next eighteen years of your child's life? Hmm

If you are for real, and frankly I am somewhat Hmm about that, but assuming you are, then use the baby stuff you had for your first child. Buy a couple of bottles in mothercare (think they sell them in packs of three) and reuse. put the baby in a sling so you don't need a double buggy. As soon as the older one is able to walk encourage him to walk more and more so by the time your baby is too heavy for the sling you'll be able to put him in the buggy and the older one can walk (my ds was out of a buggy by age two, it can be done). And get your partner to pay maintanence.

The maternity grant should never have been implimented in the first place - colossal waste of money imho.

earwicga · 12/02/2011 15:04

'it will also save you money in terms of needing fewer docs appointments, medicines etc!'

How is that? To breastfed babies not get ill? It's a myth that bottlefed babies fall ill more.'

Agreed! And the 'cost' is in getting to docs and pharmacy and back. We do still have NHS here.

onimolap · 12/02/2011 15:07

Mamadiva: the are 2 maternity grants

A) the means tested £500 maternity grant - been around for years: recently renamed the Sure Start grant. Thus grant continues to exist - and is for first babies only

B) the universal £190 grant brought in in 2009 - not means tested and for every baby. This is being abolished from April this year.

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