Maternity Grant

magpie · 04-12-2008, 16:33

I over heard this conversation today… by two pregnant women: one was a single mum the other had a partner ( who was on job seekers )
Well we get our grants just in time for Christmas… so we should be ok for booze and fags… it seems someone was doing a booze cruise or something:
This got me thinking: instead of giving them money ( because some people not all ) will use that money just to have a jolly: Why not issue them utility baby packs: simple white baby grows and the rest of the stuff they need… and basic cots and prams and so on:
There are enough people on benefits to justify some kind of hand out centre: At the end of the day a little baby does not know what kit its in…. so back to the war years and utility kit: and half the cost no doubt.
Why should we pay for these people to have kids, if they can’t afford them:

emzy · 04-12-2008, 16:54

Either that or issue them with vouchers so they have no choice but to spend it on the child and not on booze and fags and anything else not child related

Yolanda25 · 04-12-2008, 17:00

Well i agree and dont, i got the maternity grant and used it for a new settee and some stuff for the house, my partner works and so do i, not at the moment as im on maternity leave. But i do undestand what u mean, it really makes me angry that we have to pay for people to have kids, as Jeremy Kyle says every day on his program, i pay for you to have kids, go and get yourself a job like me! Go Jeremy!!!

jaysay · 04-12-2008, 17:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by emzy

Either that or issue them with vouchers so they have no choice but to spend it on the child and not on booze and fags and anything else not child related

emzy they'd only sell them to somebody, just as people have got vouchers for things through the DHSS and have flogged them down the pub, saw that with my own eyes many times in the 70s and 80s

emzy · 04-12-2008, 17:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaysay

emzy they'd only sell them to somebody, just as people have got vouchers for things through the DHSS and have flogged them down the pub, saw that with my own eyes many times in the 70s and 80s

Never thought of that

magpie · 04-12-2008, 17:24

That is why vouchers would be of no use: however government issue kit would not be easy to sell on: thus the baby gets what it needs:

emamum · 04-12-2008, 17:25

but people give you things when you are pregnant... so people could still claim for things they dont need and sell them on..

mrskitty · 04-12-2008, 17:35

I just feel sorry for the children

I too am fed up with women popping kids out like its going out of fashion, when they can't afford them.Theres children i see on their way to school in clothes that don't fit them and looking under-nourished and it really riles me.
Their trousers dragging in the puddles (after being rolled up!) and i have seen quite a few lil lads having to force themselves into coats that are too small

emamum · 04-12-2008, 17:37

especially since its a (heavily)pregnant woman thinking about fags and booze before her baby!

Lilly · 04-12-2008, 18:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by emamum

especially since its a (heavily)pregnant woman thinking about fags and booze before her baby!

It's people like that who give the maternity grant a bad name.

magpie · 04-12-2008, 18:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by emamum

but people give you things when you are pregnant... so people could still claim for things they dont need and sell them on..

yes but these would just be bog standard government issue kit ....so they would not get much for them see:

magpie · 04-12-2008, 18:37

I guess the bottom line should be… if you can not afford the upkeep of a child then you should not have one: however that will never happen .There are some young girls out there who see having a child as an excuse not to work…. To get handouts… crisis loans and the all the other benefits:

So the government should not make it easy for them…. Food and clothes and kit should be standard issue: maybe that would cut it down a bit ( or a least make it cheaper for the tax paying people )

emamum · 04-12-2008, 18:38

and yes i will be applying for my maternity grant soon (3 weeks) but will be spending it on baby (with mrskittys help i think lol) i havent been unemployed and relying on benefits long term, i worked after ty was born and i will do when i am able.

MargaretR · 04-12-2008, 18:41

In the days before the Social Fund, I was in charge of 'Single Payments' for several years at Melbourne House.
Single Payments could be claimed for household goods which were not considered covered by the weekly Income Support. (Prams and cots were such items.)
The amount awarded was based on local second hand prices.

If it was obvious that the system was being abused I could source, purchase and arrange delivery of an item. I did this once with a cooker for a woman who was asking for money for a cooker too often over a short spell of years.
That method of supplying was cumbersome and took more of my time and was only reasonable to do it in extreme cases.

magpie · 04-12-2008, 19:03

So why are the powers that be not switching on to this fact…. There are some that get decorating vouchers ( only to sell them ) and some shops will even give them money….
There should be a central point in each town ( government owned ) where handouts can be given….

That would save a lot more than the 2 % vat …. At times it really seems to me that the powers that be are totally THICK….