Sure Start Maternity Grant
1. Overview
You could get a one-off payment of £500 to help towards the costs of having a child. This is known as a Sure Start Maternity Grant.
You usually qualify for the grant if:
- you’re expecting your first child - or you’re expecting a multiple birth (eg twins) and have children already
- you already get certain benefits
You must claim the grant within 11 weeks of the baby’s due date or within 3 months after the baby’s birth.
You don't have to pay the grant back and it won’t affect your other benefits or tax credits.
2. What you'll get
A Sure Start Maternity Grant is £500 and you don’t have to pay it back.
You may not get a grant if you already have children.
If you already have children
If you already have children under 16, you can only get a grant if you’re expecting a multiple birth.
| Children under 16 | Grant if you have 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 you’re paid
All benefits, pensions and allowances are paid into an account, eg your bank account.
3. Eligibility
Usually, to qualify for a Sure Start Maternity Grant there must be no other children in your family and you must get one of these benefits:
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit at a rate higher than the family element
- Working Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element
- Universal Credit
If you already have children you may still be able to get a grant if you're expecting a multiple birth (eg twins or triplets).
You must claim by the deadline.
If you’re not giving birth
You may also be able to get a grant if you’re adopting or becoming a surrogate parent.
The baby must be less than 1 year old on the date you claim. You must be receiving one of the benefits above and one of the following must also apply:
- you’ve become responsible for the baby and you’re not the mother
- the baby has been placed with you for adoption
- you’ve got permission to adopt a baby from abroad
- you’ve got a parental order for a surrogate birth
- you’ve been appointed as guardian
- you’ve an adoption or a residence order
4. How to claim
Print off and fill in the Sure Start Maternity Grant (SF100) claim form.
There's a different form and postal address if you live in Northern Ireland.
Time limits
You can claim from 11 weeks before the week your baby is due. The latest you can claim is 3 months after your baby is born.
If you're becoming responsible for a child, eg through adoption, you must claim within 3 months of this happening (eg the child being placed with you).
Where to send your form
Take it to your local Jobcentre Plus or post it to:
Freepost RTGE-ERZC-GLYK
Wembley Benefit Centre
Mail Handling Site A
Wolverhampton
WV98 1HE
For help with the Sure Start Maternity Grant contact:
Sure Start Maternity Grant
Telephone: 0345 603 6967
Find out about call charges
You can also contact Jobcentre Plus.
What you need to know
A health professional (eg doctor or midwife) must also sign your claim form.
You’ll get a letter telling you if your claim was successful.
Appeal a decision
You can appeal the decision about your Sure Start Maternity Grant if you're unhappy with it.