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Pregnancy

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

£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?
Lj8893 · 26/03/2013 21:29

I worked out a figure that I believed i would feel safe and financially secure if that were my household income.

Sorry I perceived your post wrong, I agree with you that people shouldn't recieve monetary help just by being pregnant, but do think that perhaps workers on a particully low income yet not on benefits should also receive some sort of grant, although perhaps not the same amount as for those on the bare minimum of benefits.

laurajane89 · 26/03/2013 21:33

Lj that is what i was trying to say

GoSuckEggs · 26/03/2013 22:09

exactly, 'oh your pregnant, here have £500!'

Lj8893 · 26/03/2013 22:11

That's not what any of us are saying gosuckeggs!!!

scarlettsmummy2 · 26/03/2013 22:15

Actually it's 'here is £500 to provide for your baby as you are unable to do so yourself'. Would you rather the baby slept in a drawer?

Lj8893 · 26/03/2013 22:19

Slept in a drawer, until they're too big and then where?

Not everyone is fortunate enough to be able to buy these things without a thought, unfortunately the world doesn't work like that gosuckeggs.

GoSuckEggs · 26/03/2013 22:32

pity no one says 'here is £500, because you have worked and paid taxs all your life, enjoy'

'here is £500 to provide for your baby as you are unable to do so yourself' - shouldnt you consider this before hand? Hmm

Booyhoo · 26/03/2013 22:37

"pity no one says 'here is £500, because you have worked and paid taxs all your life, enjoy' "

benefits aren't there as a reward. they're there for those who cant for whatever reason support themselves just at that moment in time.

and actually you haven't paid taxes all your life. you have paid them since you were 18 (if you worked since then?)

how do you know that someone who is receiving a maternity grant hasn't worked and paid taxes for just as long or longer than you?

Lj8893 · 26/03/2013 22:38

Pregnancy happens in all sorts of situations, and people end up on benefits for all sorts of reasons! Some people work their whole life, yet redundancies and job losses happen and then they end up on benefits and struggle to find a new job. Are they meant to say oh dear I'm pregnant and lost my job, but no I won't take any benefits!

Some people work but are on very low incomes and therefore receive benefits such as working tax credits, income support, housing benefit.....are they meant to just struggle and never have have a child just because they aren't fortunate enough to be in a higher paid job?!

scarlettsmummy2 · 26/03/2013 22:39

Stick on bbc NI now, 953 on sky, and come back to me.

GoSuckEggs · 26/03/2013 22:39

I think if you can not afford a child at that particular moment, then no you shouldn't have one.

Booyhoo · 26/03/2013 22:41

so what? leave it at the hospital?

Lj8893 · 26/03/2013 22:43

Not all pregnancies are planned!!!!!!!

I have pcos, I didn't think I was ever going to have opportunity to become pregnant, yet here I am. And yes it will be a struggle, and we will have to claim some sort of working and child at credits but I am not going to feel guilty for having a child at what might not be "the right time" as "the right time" may never have happened!!!

Wewereherefirst · 26/03/2013 22:45

GoSuckEggs- that shade of green is vile. I hope you never have the 'luxury' of having to claim benefits, or falling pregnant and losing your job. It's shit.

I'm sure you'll find having children a real doddle on £80.

Get a grip.

GoSuckEggs · 26/03/2013 22:47

of course not booyhoo, people need to start behaving like adults and take steps to ensure they are not at risk in the first place.

GoSuckEggs · 26/03/2013 22:48

No that wont ever be a problem for me. thanks for your concern

Lj8893 · 26/03/2013 22:49

Behaving like adults?! And how is that.....the way you are behaving now? I agree with wewereherefirst, I really do hope you are never in the situation of losing your job and struggling to find one of the same income, you clearly wouldn't cope.

Lj8893 · 26/03/2013 22:50

Well good for you, you do realise your one of the lucky ones in this current state?

wannabeEostregoddess · 26/03/2013 22:51

GoSuckEggs...

What should I have done then, in your opinion?

DP signed a 3 year contract at £21k per year. We decided to ttc. The second month I found out I was pregnant. That same week the company restructured and he was made redundant. Contract? Not worth a damn.

Should I have had an abortion?

Booyhoo · 26/03/2013 22:51

who are you talking about eggs? because so far OP hasn't said whether or not she was on benefits when she conceived. being on benefits is not a permanent state of being. people can be on benefits for 3 months and then never again for the rest of their lives. what makes you think all maternity grants are given to people who conceived whilst on benefits?

Wewereherefirst · 26/03/2013 22:51

Oh and FWIW, this used to be a universal benefit. You have to thank the Tories for stopping is as you rich people GoSuckEggs, don't need it. What with those high horses you have

Lj8893 · 26/03/2013 22:54

I also hope that your future child/children don't ever find themselves in the situation of being jobless and having to claim benefits, would you judge them in the same way?

expatinscotland · 26/03/2013 22:55

'Oh and FWIW, this used to be a universal benefit. You have to thank the Tories for stopping is as you rich people GoSuckEggs, don't need it. What with those high horses you have '

No, it was not. The Health in Pregnancy grant of £190 was.

Wewereherefirst · 26/03/2013 22:57

it was in 2006 with me Expat.

expatinscotland · 26/03/2013 23:03

SureStart grants have never been universal. Health in Pregnancy was.