Subject:
"Health in Pregnancy Grant and premature births"
First topic | Last topic
Peter Turville
welfare rights worker, Oxfordshire Welfare Rights Member since 03rd Feb 2004
Health in Pregnancy Grant and premature births Wed 03-Feb-10 10:16 AM
HiPG regs require a claim after 24th week of pregnancy and before baby is born. However for premature births these rules cannot be met and HiPG is refused either because (a live) birth is before 25th week or very shortly after (i.e. birth occurs before claim form can be submitted or advice from health professional is available).
Whilst the grant is for health in pregnancy and by definition a woman is not pregnant once she has given birth it would appear the rule is 'unfair' to women who have a premature birth. Can it have been governments intention to deny such women the grant?
Premature birth is likely to indicate significant health issues for mother and baby.