If you have no other children under the age of 16 you will qualify for a grant if you or your partner are in receipt of one of the following:

• Income Support

• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

• income-related Employment and Support Allowance

• Pension Credit

• Child Tax Credit

• Working Tax Credit but it must include a disability or severe disability element

• Universal Credit

If you’re getting a Support for Mortgage Interest loan you may also qualify.

If you already have a child under 16, you may qualify for a grant if:

• You’re expecting a multiple birth, for example twins or triplets

• You are caring for someone else’s child (but not your partner’s) and the child was over 12 months old when you started to care for the child 

You may be eligible for a grant if you are going to be a surrogate parent or adopting a baby. The baby will need to be under a year old on the date you make a claim. You must be receiving one of the benefits as per number 1 (above) and one of the following must apply in relation to that baby:

• You now have responsibility for the baby and you’re not the baby's mother

• You have adopted the baby

• Permission has been granted for you to adopt a baby from abroad

• You have received a parental order for a surrogate birth

• You’ve been appointed as guardian

• You have either an adoption or a residence order

The amount you will receive will be:

• £500.00 if you give birth to one baby or twins and you have no other children under 16
  
  

• £500.00 if you give birth to twins and you have one or more children already under 16 (but not twins or multiple births)
  
  

• £1,000.00 if you give birth to triplets and you have one or more children already under 16 (but not twins or multiple births)
  
  

• £500.00 if you give birth to triplets and you already have twins under 16

You do not have to pay back a Sure Start Maternity Grant and it will not affect your other benefits or tax credits.

You are able to claim the grant from 11 weeks before your due date. You must make sure you claim no later than six months after your baby is born.

If you’re going to be responsible for someone else's child, you must make the claim no later than six months of this happening.

To make a claim download the Sure Start Maternity Maternity Grant SF100 claim form

Welsh: Ffurflen gais Grant Mamolaeth Cychwyn Cadarn

NB. There’s a different form and postal address if you live in Northern Ireland.

Once completed you will need to ask a health professional (for example a doctor or midwife) to sign your claim form too.

You should then post it to “Freepost DWP SSMG” -  a postcode or stamp is not required. You also have the option of taking the form to your local Jobcentre Plus, but that can take a lot longer to process.

You will be notified by post, telling you if your claim was successful. For Universal Credit claimants, you will not receive a decision on your claim until after your next payment. If unsuccessful, you can challenge a decision by asking for a mandatory reconsideration.

Sure Start Maternity Grant helpline 

T: 0800 169 0140 

NGT text relay (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 169 0140 

You can also request alternative formats, such as braille, large print or audio CD.

You can also contact your local Jobcentre Plus.