Government Maternity Grants

I was grateful for mine (only learnt about them on the birth of my 3rd so no one ever told me when I was a young "money grabbing" teen mother.. actually I would like to add it was an over active sex drive and not a desire for free government money that lead my now husband and I to become teen parents... the last thing I was thinking about when climbing into bed was the then prime minister John Major and if his government would provide me with a meal ticket through life... which incidentally it never did as my parents response to my being pg was to tell a 18 year old DH to get a second job and still complete his A-levels at the same time as their daughter would not live a life on benefits) so, I was grateful for it but I don't think it should be an essential entitlement.

I have lived on a couple of the worst council estates in my town and sadly I've seen far too many people push babies in dirty prams, in scruffy clothes, tatty bottles and spend that money on new trainers, phone or TV. Personally I'd prefer to see improved paternity pay and maternity pay which would avoid the need for the grant for many families (if DH had been eligible for more than the ninety-odd quid per week paternity pay for his 2 weeks leave we'd not have needed the grant so much). As the grant is meant to be for the arrival of a new baby possibly implementing a voucher scheme for that money to ensure it does go on baby essentials?

My husband is recently unemployed (worked in the motor industry in the midlands) and I've been entirely shocked by the fact that we're only pounds a week worse off on unemployment than we were with him working a 40 hour week, it's shocking.

off to a good start, step up, much valued, ah little treasures, get sorted, bless