The government has launched a new Health in Pregnancy grant which is available for anyone with a due date of 6 April 2009 onwards. The grant is not means-tested and is a one off payment of £190. You need to be at least 25 weeks pregnant at the time of application and you must have received health advice from a midwife or doctor.

To get it you need to ask your midwife or doctor for the Health in Pregnancy Grant form, or phone the HipG Helpline on 0292 050 1178.

The mum-to-be must be the one who fills the form in and then it must be signed by your midwife. The application needs to have been received within 31 days of them signing the form so don’t ask them to sign it until you’re ready to send it.

If you are on a low income you maybe also entitled to a Sure Start Maternity grant which is a one off payment of £500. Please check the link below for more information.

http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Customers/WorkingAgeBenefits/Dev_013950.xml.html

Also remember to apply for tax credits and child benefit when the baby arrives.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefit/

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/index.htm

My most spectacular travel mistake happened in Croydon. I happily tapped the postcode into the computer the day before and it wasn’t recognised. No bother the address should be fine, I thought so I popped in the address instead and it showed a map and simple travel directions. So off I set that very hot summer day, firstly on the tube, then on an overground train and finally on foot. That is where the problem started…

The walking directions looked positively quick on the map in my now sweaty palm. What the map didn’t reveal was a very large hill. (I should start carrying Ordinance Survey maps which show gradients *nods*)  I am not known around the office for my love of exercise and the sight of a steep hill filled me with dread. But I had a job to do so off I toddled, huffing and puffing on the way. I finally reached the top and started to look around for the house number I needed. Up and down, left and right I looked but it wasn’t to be found. I sat on the floor with my work PDA looking at new maps which may help my plight, now clammy and late.

After 10 minutes of this I rang my client, who was bemused as to why I was in Croydon. He lived in Enfield…

(I managed to see the client the next day, I arrived on time and he benefited from the services provided by Scotscare)