Money & Rights

What is the Sure Start Maternity Grant?

Q: 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.

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 Spotted something out of date?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.