Benefits & Family Guide · 2026/27
Sure Start Maternity Grant 2026/27: The £500 One-Off Payment Explained
Many low-income first-time parents don't realise they can claim a one-off £500 payment towards the cost of a new baby -- and because the claim window is strict (11 weeks before the due date to 6 months after birth), missing it means losing the money for good. Here is exactly who qualifies and how to apply.
Eligibility at a Glance
1. First child (or multiple birth)
Generally only your first baby qualifies, unless you have a multiple birth (twins+) alongside existing children.
2. Qualifying means-tested benefit
You or your partner must already receive Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based JSA/ESA, or qualifying Tax Credits.
3. Health professional sign-off
Form SF100 must be countersigned by a doctor, midwife, or health visitor before submission.
4. Claim within the time window
From 11 weeks before the due date to 6 months after birth (or placement, for adoption).
Worked Example
Chloe is expecting her first baby and receives Universal Credit. She completes form SF100 at her 30-week midwife appointment, has it countersigned there, and submits it to the Sure Start Maternity Grant Unit before her baby is born.
She receives a one-off, tax-free payment of £500, which does not affect her ongoing Universal Credit award, alongside her usual Universal Credit payments and, once the baby is born, Child Benefit.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Grant amount
- £500, one-off, tax-free
- Claim opens
- 11 weeks before due date
- Claim closes
- 6 months after birth/placement
- Form required
- SF100 (Jobcentre Plus / gov.uk)
- Countersignature needed
- Doctor, midwife, or health visitor
- Scotland equivalent
- Best Start Grant (Social Security Scotland)
- Affects other benefits?
- No — disregarded as income/capital
- Repayable?
- No
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Sure Start Maternity Grant?
The Sure Start Maternity Grant is a one-off, tax-free payment of £500 from the Department for Work and Pensions to help with the costs of a new baby, aimed at low-income families. Unlike Child Benefit or Universal Credit, it is a single lump sum, not an ongoing payment, and does not need to be repaid.
Who is eligible for the Sure Start Maternity Grant?
You must be expecting your first child, or expecting a multiple birth (twins or more) where you already have children, and you or your partner must already be receiving one of the qualifying means-tested benefits: Universal Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support 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, or Support for Mortgage Interest. If this is not your first child (and not a multiple birth), you generally do not qualify, even if you meet the benefit conditions.
Why does it usually only apply to a first child?
The rule exists on the basis that a family should already have essential baby equipment (a cot, pram, and so on) from a previous child, so the grant specifically targets the first-time costs of setting up for a new baby. The main exception is where you have a multiple birth (twins, triplets) and already have one or more children -- in that case, you can claim for each additional baby beyond the number of children you already have, since a multiple birth genuinely creates extra one-off costs.
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When can I claim the Sure Start Maternity Grant?
You can claim from 11 weeks before your baby is due, and up until your baby is 6 months old (or, for adoption, within 6 months of the adoption placement, or 6 months of a child arriving in the UK through surrogacy in a parental order case). Claiming outside this window means you lose the grant entirely -- there is no discretion to extend it retrospectively, so it is important to claim in good time even if your baby has already arrived.
How do I apply for the grant?
You apply using form SF100 "Sure Start", available from gov.uk or from Jobcentre Plus. The form must be countersigned by a health professional (a doctor, midwife, or health visitor) confirming they have given you health and welfare advice about your pregnancy or your baby, before you submit it. You send the completed and countersigned form to the Sure Start Maternity Grant Unit as instructed on the form.
Does the £500 grant affect my other benefits?
No. The Sure Start Maternity Grant is disregarded as income or capital for the purposes of Universal Credit and other means-tested benefits, so receiving it will not reduce your other benefit payments. It is also not taxable.
What if I already have children from a previous relationship in a new household?
Eligibility is generally based on whether this is the first child born into your current household/family unit for benefit purposes, not simply your first child biologically. If you are forming a new family unit and this is the first child of that new relationship, you may still qualify even if you or your partner have children from previous relationships -- the rules can be nuanced, so it is worth applying and letting the DWP assess your specific circumstances rather than assuming you are ineligible.
Is the Sure Start Maternity Grant the same across the whole UK?
The Sure Start Maternity Grant as described applies in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Scotland replaced it with a different, generally more generous scheme called the Best Start Grant (Pregnancy and Baby Payment), which has its own eligibility rules, amounts, and application process through Social Security Scotland rather than the DWP. If you live in Scotland, you should apply for the Best Start Grant instead, not the Sure Start Maternity Grant.
Can I get help with other baby-related costs alongside this grant?
Yes. Depending on your circumstances, you may also be entitled to Healthy Start vouchers or a Healthy Start card (for pregnant women and children under 4 in qualifying low-income households, to help buy fruit, vegetables, milk, and vitamins), Child Benefit once your baby is born, and if you or your partner works, statutory or contractual maternity, paternity, or shared parental pay. Check the qualifying conditions for each separately, as they differ from the Sure Start Maternity Grant's rules.
What happens if my claim is refused?
If your claim is refused, the DWP decision letter will explain the reason and your right to ask for a "mandatory reconsideration" -- a formal review of the decision -- normally within one month of the decision. If you still disagree after the reconsideration, you can appeal to an independent tribunal. Given the strict 6-month application deadline, if your claim is refused and you intend to challenge it, act quickly so you do not run out of time on a fresh claim if needed.
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