Glossary · UK
What is Sure Start Maternity Grant?
A one-off £500 tax-free payment to help with the costs of a new baby for low-income families on qualifying benefits in England and Wales.
Full Definition
The Sure Start Maternity Grant is a one-off payment of £500 to help with the costs of having a baby. You do not have to repay it and it does not affect your other benefits or tax credits. It is generally available only if you have no other children under 16 in your household, so it usually applies to your first baby (exceptions exist for multiple births where you already have children). To qualify you, or your partner, must be receiving a qualifying benefit such as Universal Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit with a disability element. You must claim within an 11-week window before the baby is due up to six months after the birth, using form SF100, often supported by a health professional. The grant operates in England and Wales. Scotland has replaced it with the Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment, administered by Social Security Scotland, which can pay for second and subsequent children. Northern Ireland runs its own equivalent Sure Start Maternity Grant. The £500 amount has not been uprated for many years and remains unchanged for 2026/27.