Sure Start Maternity Grants

If you or your partner need help paying for a new baby and you are currently entitled to receive one or more state benefits including Pension Credit, Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Child Tax Credit including the child element and Working Tax Credit including an extra disability element, you may be entitled to a Sure Start Maternity Grant to help cover your expenses. You may qualify for a Sure Start Maternity Grant if:

• You or your partner are pregnant
• You or your partner have given birth in the last three months
• You and your spouse have a parental order for a surrogate birth which has occurred within the last three months
• You or your partner have adopted a baby within the last three months
• You or your partner have a residence order for a baby within the last three months
• You or your partner are entitled to benefit on behalf of a dependent under twenty years of age, and this dependent is pregnant or has given birth in the last three months

If you qualify for a Sure Start Maternity Grant, it will not affect any other benefits you may be entitled to receive. Your entitlement to a Sure Start Maternity Grant will not be influenced by your savings.

If you wish to apply for a Sure Start Maternity Grant, contact your local Jobcentre Plus or contact Jobcentre Plus direct on 0800 055 6688 for assistance and a claim form. The advisors will be able to tell you if you need to send any documents regarding the birth with your claim form. If you are successful you will be entitled to £500 for each baby born. The Sure Start Maternity Grant is a one-off payment and will be paid into an account you nominate, via direct debit.