# What is the Sure Start Maternity Grant? | Clever Mum > A one-off £500 payment (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) for people on qualifying means-tested benefits — Universal Credit, Income Support, income-based * [ Home ](/) * › [ Mum Answers ](/answers) * › What is the Sure Start Maternity Grant? Money & Rights # What is the Sure Start Maternity Grant? Quick answer — What is the Sure Start Maternity Grant? A one-off £500 payment (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) for people on qualifying means-tested benefits — Universal Credit, Income Support, income-based JSA/ESA, Pension Credit, or Child Tax Credit/Working Tax Credit with the disability element — usually only if you don't already have children under 16. You can claim from 11 weeks before your due date up to 6 months after birth, via the SF100 form. It never has to be repaid. Scotland runs a separate, more generous Best Start Grant instead. ## Who qualifies You need to be receiving a qualifying means-tested benefit (Universal Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit, or Child Tax Credit/Working Tax Credit including the disability element) and usually must not already have another child under 16 in the household — the main exception is multiple births (twins, triplets) where you already have one child. ## How to claim Fill in the SF100 "Sure Start Maternity Grant" claim form (available on gov.uk), which needs signing by a midwife or health professional confirming the pregnancy or birth. You can claim any time from 11 weeks before your due date up to 6 months after the birth — claiming late within that window still works, but there's no extending past it. ## It's a grant, not a loan The £500 doesn't need to be repaid and doesn't affect other benefits. If you're in Scotland, the equivalent is the **Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment**, which is worth more and has different eligibility rules — check mygov.scot rather than gov.uk if that applies to you. ## More Money & Rights questions * [Is Child Benefit worth claiming if I earn over the threshold?](/answers/is-child-benefit-worth-claiming/) * [How much paternity leave do partners get in the UK?](/answers/partner-paternity-leave-uk/) * [How do free childcare hours work in England?](/answers/free-childcare-hours-uk/) * [How do I reconfirm free childcare hours every 3 months?](/answers/childcare-reconfirm-checklist-uk/) * [Do I get free prescriptions and dental care while pregnant?](/answers/free-prescriptions-dental-pregnant/) [Browse every question we answer →](/answers/) Health answers describe NHS guidance and are not medical advice — for anything urgent, call 111 (or 999 in an emergency). Spotted something out of date? Email [editors@clevermum.co.uk](mailto:editors@clevermum.co.uk).