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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

£500 grant

148 replies

SammyFirstBaby · 25/03/2013 11:27

iv filled it out but my midwife (iv jist moved) is fully booked as she only does appointments on Thursdays and every time I ring the doctor they dont have emergancy appointments. basicly I cant see anyone till at least 3 weeks.
buy then ill be 37 weeks. I need to get my grant stamped to get the buggy and moses basket, I have everything else.
any idea if someone at the hospital could do it? iv got a scan next week as hes a bit small but can they stamp it?
also is there anyway I can get it in to the benefit office quicker and not have to wait weeks? Smile

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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TinkyPeet · 25/03/2013 11:35

Can you not drop it in the surgery and just ask that it's stamped when they have a spare minute? X

Original poster
SammyFirstBaby · 25/03/2013 11:38

I asked that but "the doctor doesnt have spare time hence why you couldnt get an appointment"
there not the friendliest of surgery's. Hmm

OP posts:
GoSuckEggs · 25/03/2013 11:39

tell me about this grant..... never heard of it before

PearlyWhites · 25/03/2013 11:40

Yes a hospital midwife can stamp it

StormyBrid · 25/03/2013 11:45

Did you print out the form, or have you got a proper copy with official freepost envelope? If you're after a quick turnaround, make sure it's a proper copy - I first applied with a printed out one in early January and finally got the cash today because the first two printed out applications got lost in the post.

Maybe check round the local children's centres, see when they run ante- and post-natal clinics, and pop in and see if a midwife could squeeze you in for two minutes?

Guntie · 25/03/2013 11:51

Gosuck this explains it.

laurajane89 · 25/03/2013 14:11

I thought that the goverment stopped the grant

Rockchick1984 · 25/03/2013 14:19

First time mums on benefits still get it Laura

laurajane89 · 25/03/2013 14:20

Oh right, i cant get it then cause im not on benifits :(

curlywurlycremeegg · 25/03/2013 14:22

The midwife has to sign to say you have recieved antenatal care. So she may not sign it if you just leave it at reception as being a new patient she will not have seen any of the care documented in your notes. I would just take it to the hospitaland see if anyone there will sign it, as long as they have ssen your notes I can see no issues with that.

GoSuckEggs · 26/03/2013 17:47

oh how lovely, only if on benefits. Hmm

JakeBullet · 26/03/2013 17:54

That's correct...do you have a problem with that GoSuck?

It's for those who literally have no other means of help towards things.....and before anyone makes the comment.....sometimes pregnancy isn't planned and contraception fails etc. Its a help towards the costs and nothing else.

scarlettsmummy2 · 26/03/2013 17:57

I think it's great that those in need get it- it's for the babies benefit. Those wanting to do some benefit bashing should walk a day in the shoes of someone claiming them!

laurajane89 · 26/03/2013 18:04

I personally think that people who arent on benefits should also get some kind of help aswell because having a baby is expensive and pregnancies arent always planned

TantrumsAndBalloons · 26/03/2013 18:09

Well I suppose that what your wages are for??

Being on benefits means you have the bare minimum to live on.
Or did you think it was all 60inch Telly's and iPads FFS?

Lj8893 · 26/03/2013 18:09

I can see how irritating it is for those not on benefits though.....£500 would be extremely helpful for us, yet because we both work full time we don't qualify for any kind of benefit, even though we are both of minimum wage (and will struggle lots when i am only receiving statutory maternity pay).

Please don't get me wrong I'm certainly not "benefit bashing" just explaining that even those who don't get benefits will still struggle immensely for baby's stuff!

scarlettsmummy2 · 26/03/2013 18:11

Those on minimum wage will be entitled to tax credits and possibly housing benefit and child benefit. It's obviously very hard to live on minimum wage, but even harder to live on £80 a week- the amount someone on benefits and child allowance will have.

Flisspaps · 26/03/2013 18:13

I disagree laura.

I got the £190 grant when having DD (given to all pregnant women at that time) and we didn't need it, we weren't on a particularly high income then.

Didn't get it with DS, income had reduced considerably, still managed without it.

A universal payment costs too much, and means that many people get the payment who don't need it.

willoughboobs · 26/03/2013 18:13

Not everyone on benefits gets it. Only for your first baby, even if your oldest child is 16 your expected to have saved everything from that birth to use. So it's not many people on benefits who gets it either so it will be a struggle just as much for them aswell.

Lj8893 · 26/03/2013 18:15

Once the child is here and I am only working part time we will be entitled to tax credits but that is all, which will just make up to what we are earning now.

I'm not very clued up on benefits etc but how does one afford to pay rent and bills on just £80 a week?

TantrumsAndBalloons · 26/03/2013 18:17

With great difficulty.

We were on benefits for 4 months when me and DH got made redundant in the same week. It was horrific. I hated every minute of it. We were skint.

That's why I don't understand why people think it's an easy life.

Lj8893 · 26/03/2013 18:20

Oh please don't get me wrong I don't think it's an easy life at all!!

However I think it's all the stories in the media that make some think its an easy life.

scarlettsmummy2 · 26/03/2013 18:22

Their rent wouldn't come out of the £80 but everything else would! Horrific

GoSuckEggs · 26/03/2013 19:30

As someone who would be entitled to absolutly nothing if/when i have a baby, it is quite irritating to have to pay out a HUGE chunk of wages and work hard for that pleasure.

scarlettsmummy2 · 26/03/2013 19:36

Gosuckeggs- after the day I have had you really don't want to get into an argument with me about this!!!