Overview
You might be eligible for a £500 one-off payment to help with the costs of having a child. A Sure Start Maternity Grant is what this is called.
A Sure Start Maternity Grant is not available to residents of Scotland. You can alternatively apply for a Pregnancy and Baby Payment.
If each of the following conditions is met, you are usually eligible for the grant:
- You were expecting your first child, or you’re expecting multiples (such as twins) and already have children.
- You or your partner already have certain advantages.
You must apply for the grant within 11 weeks of the baby’s due date or within six months after the baby’s birth.
You are not required to repay the award, and it will have no impact on your other benefits or tax credits.
In addition to English, this resource is now accessible in Welsh (Cymraeg).
A Sure Start Maternity Grant is £500, and there is no obligation to repay it.
If you already have children, you might not be eligible for a grant.
If you already have children under the age of 16
You are only qualified for a grant if at least one of the following conditions is met:
- You’re expecting twins or triplets (such as twins)
- The child you’re looking after belongs to someone else.
- You have a kid or children born before you arrived in the UK and have been given refugee status or humanitarian protection.
| Children below 16 | Grant if you twins | Grant if you have triplets |
| You have 1 or more (and none of them are from multiple births) | £500 | £1,000 |
| You’ve already had twins | £0 | £500 |
| You’ve already had triplets | £0 | £0 |
How much money do you make for Maternity?
Your bank, building society, and credit union account will receive all benefits, pensions, and allowances.
Eligibility
There must be no other kids in your family to qualify for a Sure Start Maternity Grant. One of the following benefits must be obtained by you or your partner:
- Assistance with Income
- Jobseeker’s Allowance is dependent on income.
- Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) based on income
- Credit for Pensions
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit with a Disability
- An aspect of severe impairment
- Universal Credit
If you apply for a Support for Mortgage Interest loan, you might be eligible.
You cannot receive a Sure Start Maternity Grant if you live in Scotland. Instead, you can apply for a Pregnancy and Baby Payment.
If you already have children under the age of sixteen,
If any of the following may apply, you may still be eligible for a grant:
- you’re expecting twins or triplets (such as twins)
- You’re caring for someone else’s child (not your partner’s), and the youngster was over the age of 12 months when the arrangement began.
- Before you came to the UK, you had a kid or children and have been awarded refugee status or humanitarian protection.
You must file a claim before the deadline.
If you aren’t expecting a child,
If you’re adopting or becoming a surrogate parent, you might be eligible for a grant.
On the day you claim, the baby must be under the age of one year. You must be receiving one of the benefits listed above, as well as one of the following:
- Even though you are not the mother, you have assumed responsibility for the child.
- the baby has been placed for adoption with you;
- you have permission to adopt a child from another country, and you have a parental order for a surrogate birth.
- You’ve been assigned as a guardian or have a residence or adoption order.
What is the process for claiming?
You can file a claim early as 11 weeks before your due date. You have six months from the birth of your child to file a claim.
You must file a claim within the range of six months of being accountable for a child.
Example
You must file a claim within the range of six months of the kid being placed with you if you adopt a child.
Claim the mail
- Please fill out the Sure Start Maternity Grant (SF100) claim form and print it out.
- Fill out the statement on page 10 of the form with the help of a health expert, such as a doctor or a midwife. If you need to fulfil a deadline, you can send your form without this statement. If you do this, they will call you at a later date to arrange the statement.
- You don’t need a postcode or a stamp to send the form to ‘Freepost DWP SSMG.’
If you live in Northern Ireland, you will need to use a different form and mailing address.
If your claim is successful, you will receive a letter in the mail.
If you obtain Universal Credit, you won’t hear about your claim until your next payment.
Obtain assistance with your claim
Call the Sure Start Maternity Grant hotline for assistance.
Sure Start Maternity Grant helpline
Telephone Number: 0800 169 0140
UK’s relay (if you are unable to hear or communicate on the phone) 18001 then 0800 169 0140
Service Relay Video for those who utilize BSL (British Sign Language), you can check the services
Learn about the costs of phone calls
You can also get in touch with Jobcentre Plus.
Formats that differ
Request alternate forms, such as braille, large print, or an audio CD, by calling the Sure Start Maternity Grant helpdesk.
You can appeal a judgement if you disagree with it.
You have the right to appeal a claim denial. Requesting mandatory reconsideration is what this is known.