Sure Start Maternity Grant

[electra]

Has anyone applied for this?

I think I may be entitled as am now a single parent and also have a child who receives higher rate DLA.

Is it straightforward?

You should def apply, you may be entitled to a partial payment if not the full £500 so worth filling in the form (print off from online/jobcentre/surestart centre) and get mw to sign it

If you do receive it is paid very promptly

It is very straight forward, I got it for both of mine. You just get the MW to fill in her bit, fill in the rest and send it off.

you will definitely get it. If you get an element of CTC which is higher than the normal family element (which it will be if you have a child with a disability), then you will get the £500

I have just got mine ready to send at 29 weeks (2 weeks away!). Really simple to fill in and just get MW to sign and stamp last page.

Thanks for advice - I can apply in two weeks time then.

I've just applied for it too. Dp works full time and I am a SAHM, the only reason our payments of CTC have been over the family allowance amount is because for a large portion of the year ds was under 12 months. Just waiting to hear back now.
I'd say anything like this is worth a try, we've also applied for council tax benefits just in case.

when are you due electra? I'm 17th April.

LBB - what are council tax benefits?

I'm due 15th April, surprisenumber3 - seems to be going quickly!

My sure start centre arranged for a benefit expert to attend group one day so we could have one on one sessions to find out what we might be entitled to and basically he said that the council can help out with payments for council tax and rent if your income is less than what they think you can survive on iyswim.
We are in a shared ownership scheme so are also waiting to hear if they will pay a bit of the rent too, worth a go.
Just pop along to your council offices and pick up a form for council tax benefits (they're usually in a stand on the wall but if not just ask), you have to supply bank statements and pay slips also paperwork for child benefit and ctc etc. If you do not qualify now, make sure you take birth certificate down after new baby is born as that means your circumstances have changed and may qualify once you have another person to feed and clothe from the same income

Thanks, everyone for your advice.

oops u just reminded me i have to send off for this lol xxx