← Back to Sorted Sure Start Maternity Grant · UK guide

£500 for your first baby — tax-free, never repaid.

Last verified 6 Jun 2026 · Source GOV.UK Sure Start Maternity Grant + Social Security Scotland · Publisher: SortedUK Ltd (filed 5 Jun 2026)

The Sure Start Maternity Grant is a one-off £500 payment to help with the cost of a new baby. It is tax-free, never paid back, and does not reduce your other benefits. It is for people on a qualifying low-income UK benefit who are usually expecting their first child (or a multiple birth). Available in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland it is the more generous Best Start Grant (£767.50 first child, £383.75 after). Thousands of eligible UK parents miss it every year — here is how to claim before the deadline.

£500One-off, tax-free, per baby
£767.50Scotland Best Start, first child
6 monthsAfter birth to claim by
Form SF100The claim form (free)
Do I qualify? See all UK family support

Who qualifies?

You usually qualify for the £500 grant if both of these are true:

1 — It is (normally) your first baby

There must be no other child under 16 in your household. So it is normally a first-baby grant. Exceptions where you can still get it even with other children:

  • You are expecting a multiple birth (twins, triplets) — you may get a grant for each new baby.
  • You are becoming responsible for a child through adoption, a surrogacy arrangement, or certain residence/guardianship orders.

2 — You get a qualifying benefit

You or your partner must get at least one of these:

  • Universal Credit
  • Pension Credit
  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Child Tax Credit
  • Working Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element
Not sure if you're on a qualifying benefit? Claim anyway The grant is free to apply for and the DWP decides. If you are pregnant on a low income and not sure what you qualify for, run a quick check first — you may also be missing Healthy Start food vouchers, Child Benefit, and Universal Credit itself. See the Healthy Start guide and benefits checker.

How to claim

Claim it now — free

Have ready: form SF100 with the health professional section signed by a midwife, doctor or health visitor. Claim from 11 weeks before your due date to 6 months after the birth.

  1. Get form SF100 ("Sure Start Maternity Grant"). Download it from GOV.UK, or ask your midwife or Jobcentre Plus for a paper copy.
  2. Fill in your details and the baby's due date (or birth date if already born).
  3. Get a health professional to sign it. A midwife, doctor or health visitor must complete and sign the health professional section to confirm the pregnancy or birth.
  4. Send it within the deadline — any time from 11 weeks before your due date up to 6 months after the birth.
  5. Get paid. The £500 is normally paid into the same bank account as your other benefits, usually within a few weeks.
Don't miss the 6-month deadline If you claim more than 6 months after the birth, you lose the £500 permanently — there is no backdating beyond the window. If your baby has already arrived, claim today. If you are still pregnant, you can claim from 11 weeks before the due date.

Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland — Best Start Grant (more generous)

Scotland does not use the Sure Start Maternity Grant. Instead, Social Security Scotland pays the Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment: £767.50 for your first child and £383.75 for each child after that. Unlike the £500 grant, it is paid for every child, not just the first. You can apply from the 24th week of pregnancy up to 6 months after the birth (longer in some cases). Apply through mygov.scot.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland uses the same £500 Sure Start Maternity Grant as England and Wales, but you claim it through nidirect rather than GOV.UK. The rules and deadline are the same.

Other money to check while you're pregnant

The maternity grant is one of several UK schemes new parents miss. While you're claiming, check these too:

  • Healthy Start — £4.25–£8.50/week in food + free vitamins on a low income. SortedUK guide.
  • Child Benefit — £26.05/week first child, £17.25 each other child. Claim as soon as the baby arrives.
  • Maternity Allowance — up to £187.18/week if you don't qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay (self-employed, recently changed jobs).
  • Tax-Free Childcare or UC Childcare — up to £2,000/yr per child, or 85% of costs on Universal Credit. UC Childcare guide.
  • Council Tax Reduction if your income dropped on maternity leave. Council Tax guide.
  • Free NHS prescriptions and dental care during pregnancy and for 12 months after (apply for a MatEx exemption certificate).

Free UK support

  • GOV.UK Sure Start Maternity Grant — the official claim page and SF100 form.
  • Citizens Advice — 0800 144 8848. Free help with the claim and a full benefits check.
  • Turn2us — free grants search + benefits calculator for low-income families.
  • Maternity Action — free advice line on maternity rights and pay.
  • Your midwife or health visitor — can sign the form and point you to local support.

Sure Start Maternity Grant — common questions

What is the Sure Start Maternity Grant?

A one-off £500 payment to help with the cost of a new baby. It's tax-free, doesn't affect your other benefits, and is never repaid. For people on a qualifying low-income benefit in England, Wales and NI, usually expecting their first child. Scotland uses the more generous Best Start Grant instead.

Who qualifies?

Usually if there's no other child under 16 in your household (so it's a first-baby grant, with exceptions for multiple births and adoption) AND you or your partner get Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based JSA, income-related ESA, Child Tax Credit, or Working Tax Credit with a disability element.

How much is it and do I repay it?

£500 per baby, tax-free, never repaid, and it doesn't reduce your other benefits. In Scotland the Best Start Grant is £767.50 for the first child and £383.75 for each child after.

When do I claim by?

From 11 weeks before your due date up to 6 months after the birth. Miss the 6-month deadline and you lose the £500. Use form SF100, signed by a midwife, doctor or health visitor.

Can I get it if I already have children?

Usually no — it's normally for your first baby. But exceptions apply for multiple births (twins/triplets), adoption, surrogacy and certain guardianship orders. Always claim and let the DWP decide.

What about Scotland and Northern Ireland?

Scotland: Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment via Social Security Scotland (£767.50 / £383.75, paid for every child). Northern Ireland: same £500 grant as England/Wales, claimed through nidirect.

Sources Sure Start Maternity Grant · GOV.UK Sure Start Maternity Grant (eligibility + £500 + 11-weeks-before to 6-months-after window + form SF100). Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment · mygov.scot Best Start Grant (£767.50 first child / £383.75 subsequent). Northern Ireland · nidirect Sure Start Maternity Grant. Free help: Citizens Advice 0800 144 8848 · Turn2us grants + benefits calculator · Maternity Action advice line. Last reviewed: 6 June 2026.
Your safest next step today

Expecting a baby on a low income? Claim your £500 before the deadline.

Get form SF100, have your midwife sign it, and send it any time from 11 weeks before your due date to 6 months after the birth. Free, tax-free, never repaid.

Also claim Healthy Start food vouchers Open the Family hub Get urgent help
Sourced to GOV.UK · DWP · Social Security Scotland · 45+ UK official bodies

One scan. Every UK money route you may be owed.

Sorted's "What am I missing?" cross-checks the maternity grant, Healthy Start, Child Benefit, Maternity Allowance, childcare support and Council Tax Reduction.

Find what I'm missing