Sure Start Maternity Grant 2026/27: The £500 Payment Most New Parents Miss
The Sure Start Maternity Grant pays £500 to eligible first-time parents on qualifying benefits in 2026/27. Who qualifies, the claim window, and why most families never apply for it.
A £500 payment many eligible families never claim
The Sure Start Maternity Grant is a one-off, non-repayable £500 payment aimed at helping with the significant upfront costs of a new baby — a pram, cot, car seat and the many other essentials. Despite the meaningful amount, take-up is thought to be relatively low, partly because it requires an active claim rather than being paid automatically, and partly because awareness of the scheme is patchy compared with better-known benefits.
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Two conditions generally need to be met together:
1. It's usually your first child (or you're expecting a multiple birth, such as twins, while already having one or more children under 16). There are some further exceptions — for example, if you're caring for a child that isn't your partner's biological child and the arrangement started when the child was over 12 months old, or if you or your partner have refugee status, humanitarian protection, or have come to the UK from Afghanistan or Ukraine.
2. You or your partner receive a qualifying benefit, which includes:
- Universal Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit at a rate higher than the family element
- Working Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element
The claim window is strict
You can claim the grant from 11 weeks before your baby's due date, right up to 6 months after the birth. Outside this window, the claim is not normally accepted at all — unlike some benefits where a late claim might still be considered, this is a genuinely hard deadline, which is one reason it's worth applying as soon as eligibility is confirmed rather than waiting until after the birth.
No repayment, no effect on other benefits
The £500 is a genuine grant: it does not need to be repaid, and receiving it does not reduce or otherwise affect your entitlement to Universal Credit, Child Benefit, or any other benefit you already receive.
Scotland has a different, separate scheme
Parents in Scotland should note that the Sure Start Maternity Grant described here applies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland only. Scotland instead runs the Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment, with its own amount and eligibility rules, administered by Social Security Scotland rather than the DWP.
uk-marriage-allowance-complete-guide-2026Bottom line
The Sure Start Maternity Grant is a straightforward £500 one-off payment for eligible first-time (or multiple-birth) parents already receiving a qualifying benefit — but it must be actively claimed within a strict window running from 11 weeks before the due date to 6 months after the birth. If you think you might be eligible, it's worth checking and applying promptly rather than assuming it will be paid automatically.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Sure Start Maternity Grant
- GOV.UK: Sure Start Maternity Grant — eligibility
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Sure Start Maternity Grant?
The Sure Start Maternity Grant is a one-off payment of £500 to help with the costs of a new baby, available to eligible parents in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (Scotland runs a separate, different scheme).
Who is eligible for the Sure Start Maternity Grant?
You usually need to be expecting your first child (or expecting a multiple birth such as twins while already having children), and you or your partner must be receiving a qualifying benefit such as Universal Credit, Income Support, Pension Credit, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Child Tax Credit at a rate higher than the family element, or Working Tax Credit with a disability or severe disability element.
Can I claim if I already have children?
Generally only if you have no other children under 16 living with you, with some exceptions — including expecting a multiple birth while already having one or more children, caring for a child that is not your partner's (where that child was over 12 months old when the arrangement started), or if you or your partner have refugee status or have come to the UK from Afghanistan or Ukraine.
When do I need to claim by?
You must claim between 11 weeks before the baby's due date and up to 6 months after the birth. Claims outside this window are not normally accepted, so it's worth applying as soon as you know you're eligible rather than waiting.
Do I have to pay the grant back?
No — the Sure Start Maternity Grant is a one-off payment that does not need to be repaid, and it does not affect any other benefits you receive.
Does Scotland have the same scheme?
No, Scotland runs its own Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment instead, with different amounts and eligibility rules, so parents in Scotland should check the Scotland-specific scheme rather than the Sure Start Maternity Grant that applies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
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