Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

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

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Teenage pregnancy, need advice

48 replies

Jonesie72 · 26/10/2018 19:47

Hi, my 17 year daughter very unexpectedly discovered she was 6 months pregnant a few weeks ago. To say a shock was an understatement! To make matters worse it would seem that because of her age she is not able to claim any benefit at all and because of that she can't claim the maternity grant or healthy start vouchers. She will be staying with us because she is too young to be on her own. Does anyone else have experience of this or can give advice please. I feel that I have exhausted every avenue 😐

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

dementedpixie · 26/10/2018 19:52

She will qualify for healthy start vouchers as she is under 18. Doesn't need to be claiming benefits for that due to her age

an1997 · 26/10/2018 19:53

I was 17 when I found out I was pregnant, I'm now 18 with a baby and live in Scotland. I am able to get universal credit which is a number of benefits in one and receive a maternity grant, I'm not sure why it would be any different for your daughter.

dementedpixie · 26/10/2018 19:53

www.healthystart.nhs.uk/healthy-start-vouchers/do-i-qualify/

flossietoot · 26/10/2018 19:55

I don’t think that is correct about benefits. Who told you this?

PurplePenguins · 26/10/2018 19:58

My niece was pregnant at 17 and was able to claim the healthy start vouchers. I am 99% sure she was able to claim income support too. I would go into the job centre and find out for sure xx

Original poster

Jonesie72 · 26/10/2018 20:01

Thanks for your responses . We've been to the job centre and the lady said this is the date you'll find out if you're entitled to anything. I said might it be nothing then and she said yes. I've also had this double checked by a friend of a friend who works at the job centre. Even mentioned it to the midwife who seemed to know this would be the case. Seems that it might all change when she turns 18 but that is a while yet. With the healthy living vouchers, she can get them now but they'll stop once baby is born. I really wasn't expecting a lot for her but just seems unfair that at 17 she doesn't even qualify for free milk!

OP posts:

dementedpixie · 26/10/2018 20:02

At 29 weeks it looks like she could claim universal credit which would open up a path to getting the maternity grant

If you’re 16 or 17

You can make a new Universal Credit claim if any of the following apply:

you have limited capability for work or you have medical evidence and are waiting for a Work Capability Assessment
you’re caring for a severely disabled person
you’re responsible for a child
you’re in a couple with responsibility for at least one child and your partner is eligible for Universal Credit
you’re pregnant and it’s 11 weeks or less before your expected week of childbirth
you’ve had a child in the last 15 weeks
you do not have parental support, for example you’re estranged from your parents and you’re not under local authority care

Original poster

Jonesie72 · 26/10/2018 20:03

When I've been doing my research it would have seemed that she would have got income support but now they are changing it to universal tax credit she gets nothing.

OP posts:

dementedpixie · 26/10/2018 20:04

Read what i just posted. At 29 weeks she can apply for universal credit

Original poster

Jonesie72 · 26/10/2018 20:08

I have read your post and yes it does say you can make a claim but doesn't mean you'll actually get it! We've physically been to the job centre, had an appointment and the adviser implied not likely to be successful

OP posts:

dementedpixie · 26/10/2018 20:10

You won't know until you apply.

Original poster

Jonesie72 · 26/10/2018 20:18

Fingers crossed 🤞 her claim is in and we'll find out in Nov. When you read the literature I didn't think there would be a problem as she meets some of the criteria. It has been a very frustrating time!!

OP posts:

Thesnobbymiddleclassone · 26/10/2018 20:31

Set up a meeting with the job centre and find out for certain what she can claim now things have changed.

Until she's 18, I think the best thing would be for her to just have the love and support of her family right now after that shock, she'll need it.

It may also help for her to get in touch with your local children's centre. They may know more about grants and support groups also. She can also find other parents online through blogs and forums x

Original poster

Jonesie72 · 26/10/2018 20:37

Thank you. Not quite sure how you tag someone. Normally I'm reading on mumsnet, not posting! X

OP posts:

Lilbear14 · 26/10/2018 21:02

Hi, not sure this will help as it's 11 years ago and some things will have changed.

But I fell pregnant at 16 and had my son at 17. I was able to claim income support because of my age. Regardless of me living with my parents too. I think the woman at the jobcentre will have only said it's possible for it to not go through because they are only advisors not the people who decide who can and cant go on benefits. I've had experience before where I have been told that they can't say yes or no because it isn't up to them basicly. It's to cover their own backsides basicly incase anything was rejected. Only way you will find out is to wait for a decision. I also got the grants too. Nearly forgot about that part.

It's frustrating as hell having to deal with finances aswell as everything else.
But with the right support and love and care your daughter will be absolutely fine.

Original poster

Jonesie72 · 26/10/2018 21:10

Thank you for your response. Whatever happens she has got the love and support of me, her dad, her sister and the rest of the family so it will be one very loved baby xx

OP posts:

Lilbear14 · 26/10/2018 21:15

Good luck with it all @Jonesie72 and to your daughter and family.
My parents were lovely, so supportive and not wanting to blow my own trumpet but I'm doing really well.
I found that when I had my LO my relationship with my parents improved so much (I wasn't a very nice teen) as we had something else to bond over and I have had another child who is loved just as much as the first and I get to tell them they are going to be grandparents again this weekend.

Original poster

Jonesie72 · 26/10/2018 21:28

Such lovely news @Lilbear14, many congratulations to you and your family xx

OP posts:

crunchymommy · 26/10/2018 21:31

I don't know how much times have changes but I had my eldest 9 years ago and was pregnant at 16. I got healthy start vouchers and a maternity grant and the day she was born I could claim income support child tax and child benefit. It took 6 weeks to come but was back dated so was a fair bit when I eventually got it. I got my own flat in a mum and baby unit and got housing benefit too. Everything always works out in the end. Best of luck to you all and congratulations.

flossietoot · 26/10/2018 21:46

If you are in a Sure Start area might be worth linking in with them for additional support. With regards to milk- no one gets free milk now.

dementedpixie · 26/10/2018 21:56

Healthy start vouchers can be used to buy formula milk

universe00 · 26/10/2018 22:12

I was 16 and pregnant
I was able to claim income support & healthy start. Who told you that she can't?

Papergirl1968 · 26/10/2018 23:02

We’re in a similar position, with oldest dd, 17, pregnant, although in our case we knew early on. As she’s never worked it seems she doesn’t qualify for much and as she dropped out of college, we don’t even get child benefit for her.
See if your dd qualifies for a Sure Start maternity grant.
As others have said, she should get the healthy start vouchers towards fruit and veg. I think the forms are given out by the midwife.
She should also get free prescriptions and dental treatment.
Will the father or his family help financially?
My dd is not sure which of two lads is the dad so it will have to be a DNA test...

Papergirl1968 · 26/10/2018 23:14

It looks like dd May qualify for income support. I’ll look into it on Monday but it’s not been mentioned by social workers, who are heavily involved.

grace7 · 26/10/2018 23:26

She isn't too young. If eligible, she can get the sure start maternity grant, I think that's £500. She will also get child benefit, and the healthy start vouchers. I know this as I am seventeen, and have a five month old son. Depending on her living/support situation she could be in receipt of other benefits. For instance, I rent a house with my partner and baby, my partner works full time so we also get child tax credit & working tax credit.

All the best to you and your daughter, I hope things work out well for you all!

Flip

1 2