Sure Start Maternity Grant.

B

bub123

Guest
Hello! This is my first post here - I wrote a huge one out about a week ago but got timed out and couldn't be bothered to re type it, but here I am for something else now. Hopefully one or some of you lovely people can help...

I am applying for Maternity Allowance as I left my old job to go travelling before I found out that I was pregnant (it was a surprise, I would have stayed there if I had known. Had been there 4 years and would have gotten all the benefits, maternity pay etc). I have been actively seeking work since about my 12th week of pregnancy, but to no avail as understandably not many people want to employ someone who is pregnant and will be leaving soon.

Anyway, I am now in my 21st week and have filled in my forms for Maternity Allowance and today my midwife gave me a MATB1 to go along with this to prove the pregnancy and when the baby is due. I can send this claim in at 26 weeks to be processed.

Well, today she told me about the Sure Start Maternity Grant. I have printed off the forms from the internet, read them through and filled them in, however I cannot find anywhere whether or not I need to send another MATB1 with this claim? My baby is due on the 27th of December and I will be claiming the grant before the baby is born - the 11th week before the estimated due date so 29th week of pregnancy.

There is a part on the back of the form that my midwife is required to fill in, but do I need to ask her for another MATB1, or is the one that I will be sending in with the forms for my Maternity Allowance enough?

Has anyone claimed MA or the Sure Start Grant? I am hoping the claims will go smoothley as I really am getting stuck for money. Luckily I had money saved for travelling which I have now been having to live on to pay bills, loan, car ins etc, etc, but that is slowly but surely starting to dwindle. I hate having to claim these things and am gutted that I haven't been able to find a job. I just wish I had known about the pregnancy before I had left to go travelling then I would have been much better off.

Oh well, any advice or suggestions as to what else I can do would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

x
 
Re: Help Please! Re: Sure Start Maternity Grant.

Also - I am currently on JSA, although I can barely see the point anymore as it is obvious that nobody wants to employ me, especially now that I am past the half way mark. Plus the money I am receiving from the JSA isn't enough to cover my bills going out hence why the money situation is getting progressivley worse.
 
Re: Help Please! Re: Sure Start Maternity Grant.

"Maternity Allowance", "MATB1" and "Sure Start" sound like UK terms? If so then note that Askaboutmoney is an Irish discussion forum and focuses mainly on Irish personal finance and related issues. You may not get an answer to your query here but maybe somewhere like www.fool.co.uk might be a better bet?
 
Re: Help Please! Re: Sure Start Maternity Grant.

Oops, I have no idea why I didn't realise this before posting! Now I feel stupid. Thanks ClubMan.
 
Back
Top