Health in Pregnancy Grant - £190 for mums-to-be!

Too bad I'm due in a couple weeks instead of April . . . but I ain't crossin' my legs for that long! 

Ooh, I'm due in August, I might apply for this!

I know previously in this thread it was determined that those on FLR would not be eligible for this grant. But I think that some of those here on FLR(M) would be. This website says

If you're subject to 'immigration control'
You may not be able to get the Grant if you're subject to 'immigration control'. This means either one of the following:
    * the Home Office says you have permission to stay in the UK (known as ‘leave to enter or remain’) but this permission is given to you on the grounds that you don’t claim some benefits, tax credits or housing help paid by the UK government (known as ‘no recourse to public funds’)
    * you need permission to stay in the UK - again known as ‘leave to enter or remain’ - but you do not have it

If you are subject to immigration control you might still qualify for the Grant as long as one of the following applies:
    * you are a family member of someone who is from the UK or another EEA country
 

Am I correct in reading this as even though I have FLR, because my husband is a UK citizen, I am still eligible?

~Joeli

no, you are misreading it I'm afraid.  That's a list of those who aren't eligible for the grant. 

Sorry, the first bit of the quote was defining what it means to be subject to immigration control. I was referring specifically to second bit where it says "If you are subject to immigration control you might still qualify for the Grant as long as one of the following applies" and one of the following being family member of a UK citizen.

the website does imply that people who are here as family members of UK nationals will qualify for the grant if they have a valid visa and are genuinely resident here. 

The wording is a bit non-committal, though- it says you "might still qualify for the grant" if you are subject to immigration control but you are a family member of someone from the UK, etc.

Oh, I see what you are saying now.  I think I looked at that a little too quicly.  I'm still upset about the timeline as my little one will be born just before it begins.  I want the money too!!

Can anyone get this money? Will my doctor have to sign something, I am worried as I live in quite a middleclass area and I am a chubette....she would know that I eat healthyish from just looking at me! 

Just an update to say that I've sent off my form for this grant and we'll see how it goes. I've had to check the box saying that I'm subject to immigration control and it says they'll contact me for more information. Curious to see how long it takes from sending off the form to money in the bank (assuming I do qualify).

Joeli

JRK - I'll be interested to see your results - the processing times are quite slow from what I understand, but fingers crossed they give it to you!  Might just ask for a copy of your visa or something...

I applied for this ( i am the Uk citizen) it took 4 weeks to arrive as they had a backlog however now it is taking arond 2 weeksnow to process.

Alot of doctors have not heard of this, but Midwives have.
There is more info here if yor umidwife or doc has not heard of it, as some have'nt with a umber to call if they dont have the forms.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/HealthinPregnancyGrant/DG_173505

Also make sure that your midwife signs it either dead on 25 weeks or just after , as a lot of people have been denied it for getting the form signed 1 day early at 24+6.

I have been so grateful of this,  with Chris and I splitting up etc, it has actually been a God send, £190 is not much but it has helped me alot.

Not to be horrible but I'm glad it's not means tested. We live in a not too nice area with a huge population of young girls who are always pregnant (one after the other). As I go off to slave at work they get to sit at home on benefits and get free money even though they've never worked an honest day in their lives. Why should they get all the free money and grants from the government?

I'm going to get pregnant again JUST so I can get this grant... okay, maybe not, but we are looking to have another baby.

Just wanted to give a quick update.

Just to clarify, I currently have a limited leave to remain visa. I am married to a UK citiizen.

I sent off my form on the 5th of June. I never heard a word back so finally I called on the 23rd of July, they told me that my claim was being processed and that they would have someone look at it and call me back. Today on the 27th of July I received a call saying that they were having trouble processing my claim because I checked the box that I was subject to immigration control. I was asked if it said "no recourse to public funds". I said yes. The woman said that I wouldn't be eligible. I told her I was married to a UK citiizen. She said in that case I was eligible and took down my husband's name and the date that I entered the UK. She then said the money would be in my account in a week.

So my advice for anyone who is in a similiar postion is to call 4 weeks after you send off your form. I wish I had called sooner but oh well! At least I can confirm that people subject to immigration control and who have no recourse to public funds but are married to a UK citizen are elligable for this grant.

Thanks for this!!  Processing times are now looking very fast, so I will definitely be phoning if it looks like other people are getting theirs before me .  Sounds like they weren't even going to bother processing it if you hadn't chased them!

Sorry, just updating for benefit of others:

Sent off my form on 5 October, of course ticking the box that I am subject to immigrant control.

Decided not to wait the 4 weeks it tells you to before calling, so I call after 3 weeks on 27 October.  The person on the phone was very nice and looks up my application.  She says it was received but the paperwork hasn't been sent out, so she marked my case to send the paperwork out that day.

Yesterday, on 6 November I receive the paperwork (I've thrown away the envelope, so didn't see if the postmark really was 27/28 Oct or slightly later, but with all the postal strikes I wouldn't be surprised it took 10ish days to reach me).  It's 1 sheet of A4 with 9 questions...but only the first 3 apply to me since my husband is British (I think the rest deal with right to abode & EEA stuff)!  Seemed entirely pointless and something that could've easily been done over the phone, as all I had to put was that I was subject to immigration control, my nationality (USA) & his nationality (UK).  Then a signature and back into the post!  I suppose they decided they need a written record & signature just to cover themselves and have official record, as I know people a few months back did all this over the phone.

I'll update again when the money is in my account, but I'm going to give it around 10 days and phone again to make sure they received it as I don't trust the post lately.  A normal app takes around 10 days to receive the money, so this feels long enough to me.

Phew!