does anyone know who can claim the £500 maternity grant?

Question

i work full time and so does my husband, we dont claim family tax credit. does anyone know if its only unemployed women who are entitled 2 it. thanks

Answer 1

Hi there, I actually work for the DWP so I can give sound advice. Are you talking about the Sure Start Maternity Grant? You dont have to be getting benefits to get this or be a single parent, but you would have a low income. Check out the jobcentreplus.gov.uk web site for more info, or www.hmrc.gov.uk.
Also why are you not claiming tax credits? You should get child tax credits and working tax credits, you could be losing alot of money each month. If you and you partner earn over £58,000 per year then you wont get tax credits but if u earn less than this you should make a claim. Its your right.
Call Taxcredits on 0845 300 3900 to claim.
good luck

Answer 2

What is it?
A Sure Start Maternity Grant is a one-off payment to help with the cost of having a new baby.

Is it for me?
If you need help with the cost of buying essential items for a new baby, this grant could help you.

You must be receiving:

Income Support
income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
Child Tax Credit at a rate higher than the family element
extra Working Tax Credit relating to a disability, or
Pension Credit.
You must claim from 11 weeks before the week your baby is due, until 3 months after the baby is born

Answer 3

Hope this helps .........

You can get a Sure Start Maternity Grant if you or your partner or civil partner receive any of the following:

Income Support
income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
Pension Credit
Child Tax Credit at a rate higher than the family element
Working Tax Credit where a disability or severe disability element is included in the award
and if one of the following applies to you:

you or your partner or civil partner are pregnant or have given birth within the last three months
you or your partner or civil partner have adopted a child, or in certain circumstances have been granted a residence order for a child, within the last three months and the child is less than one year old
you and your husband or wife have been granted a parental order for a surrogate birth within the last three months
you're getting benefit for a dependant under the age of 20 who is pregnant or has given birth within the last three months

Answer 4

You can claim the grant if you recieve Income support, Jobseekers allowance, DLA or the higher rate of child tax credits.
You do not have to be unemployed or single to claim.
You can claim from your 29th week of pregnancy to 3 months after the birth.

Also there is a loophole if you do not recieve tax credits, you can wait till the baby is born, then claim the child tax credits, then apply for the loan.
Providing your income is not so high that you don't get the higher rate of tax credits.

Answer 5

just apply you may not get it but you don't know unless you try

btw, if you claim tax credits or child tax credits after the baby is born you may be able to get it within the first 3 months of little one being born, you should get some tax credits when the baby is born so apply asap then apply for maternity grant you have up to 3 months after the baby is born

Answer 6

You are only entitled to the sure start maternity grant if you are receiving income support or any other benefit apart from job seekers allowance and maternity allowance. It is basically for those people who are not able to work for whatever reason such as long term illness or those who already have children and choose not to work but to stay at home, and cannot afford to buy baby stuff.
I found this information out on the social security web sites, just google sure start maternity grants. hope this helps! :)

Answer 7

its not only unemplayed woman who are entitled to it, but u must earn a low income to be entitled to it. i think they would take into account your husbands wage as well im not sure.
im going to be a single mum an i wouldnt say i earned a great deal of money but even i earn "too much" to get it.
type it into yahoo and get the website up and have a look i can't quite remeber what the site is but thats how i found it

Answer 8

I thought that u had to be on benefits to get it, but apparently not, coz my friend just got it, and her husband works full time.
I think it depends on your income, so if you AND your husband work full time, i doubt you will get it.

It is still worth asking your midwife, coz she will know all about it.

Answer 9

i have the criteria book in front of my from th einland revnue and it says that you msut either
A) be on income support
B) have a low income the limit is not mentioned int he book but i have enquired for my self and it is £18,000 pa
c) be claiming job seekers allowenece
I hop ethi shelp and hope you have happy spending

Answer 10

you need to be on income support or tax credits.it a benefit to help out those on a low income.