Can I get a Sure Start Maternity Grant?

For people expecting their first child or multiple birth who receive certain benefits.

Applies to: England, Wales, Northern Ireland Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

You could get a one-off £500 payment towards the costs of having a child. You usually qualify if you're expecting your first child (or a multiple birth) and you or your partner get certain benefits.

Claim from 11 weeks before the week your baby is due until 6 months after the birth.
You don't pay it back and it won't affect other benefits.
In Scotland, apply for Pregnancy and Baby Payment instead.

Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Rules may be different in:

Scotland: Check mygov.scot for Scotland

Key facts

One-off £500
First child or multiple birth
Claim within set window

What the grant is

The Sure Start Maternity Grant is a one-off payment to help with the costs of a new baby. You do not pay it back. It is paid into a bank, building society or credit union account.

It is mainly for a first child. You can also get it for twins or triplets if you already have children.

How much you get

The grant is £500. If you already have children under 16, you can usually only get it for a multiple birth, and the amount depends on your family:

Children you already have under 16	Expecting twins	Expecting triplets
1 or more, none from a multiple birth	£500	£1,000
You have already had twins	£0	£500
You have already had triplets	£0	£0

Who can get it

You or your partner must get one of these:

Universal Credit
income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Pension Credit
a Support for Mortgage Interest loan

Usually you must have no other children under 16. There are exceptions. You may still qualify if:

you are expecting a multiple birth
you look after someone else's child (not your partner's) who was over 12 months old when you started caring for them
you have refugee status or humanitarian protection, or you came from Afghanistan or Ukraine under certain schemes
you are claiming for a family member under 16, or aged 16 to 19 in approved education or training

You can also claim if you are adopting or becoming a parent through surrogacy. The child must be under 1 when you claim. If you are adopting, you must claim within 6 months of the child being placed with you.

How to claim

Get form SF100 from GOV.UK.
Ask a midwife, doctor or other health professional to confirm the pregnancy or birth. They can fill in form MAT B1 or write a note.
Post the form to Freepost DWP SSMG. You do not need a stamp or postcode.

You can claim from 11 weeks before the week your baby is due, up to 6 months after the birth. If the deadline is close, send the form without the health professional's evidence. DWP will contact you later for it.

After you claim

You should get a letter within 28 days of DWP getting your form. It can take longer if you get Universal Credit. If you disagree with the decision, you can ask for a mandatory reconsideration.

The helpline is 0800 169 0140 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm). The Welsh language line is 0800 169 0240.

If you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland

Scotland: you cannot get this grant. Apply for the Pregnancy and Baby Payment from Social Security Scotland instead. It pays £796.65 for a first child and £398.35 for later children. You can apply from 24 weeks of pregnancy until your baby is 6 months old.

Northern Ireland: the grant is run by the Department for Communities. The amounts are the same (£500, or up to £1,000 for a multiple birth), but you post form SF100 to DfC Sure Start Maternity Grants, Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton WV98 2JX.

Related guides

Where these figures come from

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

See how to claim

Common questions

Which benefits do I need for a Sure Start Maternity Grant?

You or your partner must get Universal Credit, Pension Credit or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, or have a Support for Mortgage Interest loan.

Can I get a Sure Start Maternity Grant for my second child?

Usually not, unless you are expecting a multiple birth such as twins or another exception applies.

How long does a Sure Start Maternity Grant take?

You should get a decision within 28 days of DWP getting your form and evidence.

Can I get a Sure Start Maternity Grant if I am adopting?

Yes, if you get a qualifying benefit and the baby is under 1 when you claim. You must claim within 6 months of the adoption.

Official sources

1.Sure Start Maternity Grantwww.gov.uk/sure-start-maternity-grant
2.Sure Start Maternity Grant: how to claimwww.gov.uk/sure-start-maternity-grant/how-to-claim
3.Sure Start Maternity Grant: eligibilitywww.gov.uk/sure-start-maternity-grant/eligibility

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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