You could get a one-off payment of £500 to help towards the costs of having a child. This is known as a Sure Start Maternity Grant.
You usually qualify for the grant if both of the following apply:
- you’re expecting your first child, or you’re expecting a multiple birth (such as twins) and have children already
- you or your partner already get certain benefits
You must claim the grant within 11 weeks of the baby’s due date or within 3 months after the baby’s birth.
You don’t have to pay the grant back and it won’t affect your other benefits or tax credits.
You may not get a grant if you already have children.
If you already have children
If you already have children under 16, you can only get a grant if you’re expecting a multiple birth.
| You have 1 or more (and none of them are from multiple births) | £500 | £1,000 |
| You’ve already had twins | £0 | £500 |
| You’ve already had triplets | £0 | £0 |
More Information on if you qualify for the grant and how to claim and also the form to download, can be found on the .gov link below