Having a baby can get really expensive, and even more so in the cost-of-living crisis. Every extra penny counts and new mums can claim a one-off £500 to help with the cost of having a newborn through a little-known government scheme. New or expectant mums can claim up to £500 in free cash through the Sure Start Maternity Grant. And the best part? You don’t have to pay it back. This little-known government benefit is designed to help cover the costs of having a baby. But there are some specific criteria you need to meet in order to qualify. The grant is designed to give your bank balance a much-needed boost when you’re facing the financial strain of having a little one. Parents may even be entitled to more than the standard £500 payout depending on your specific circumstances. For example, if you’ve already got kids under 16 and you’re now having twins or triplets, you could be looking at a £1,000 grant. Or if you’ve got existing children but you’re now caring for a family member’s baby, you might also qualify. Sounds good, right? Let’s take a closer look at exactly who can get their hands on this free cash, and how to go about claiming it.
Who is Eligible for the Sure Start Maternity Grant?
The grant is available to new or expectant mums who are receiving certain state benefits. This includes folks on Universal Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit, or Working Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element. You’ll also need to act fast – you can only claim the grant within 11 weeks of your baby’s due date, or within 6 months of them being born. And as a general rule, you won’t get it if you’ve already got children aged under 16, unless you’re having multiples or caring for someone else’s child.
How to Claim the Sure Start Maternity Grant
Applying for the grant is a pretty straightforward process. You’ll need to fill out the Sure Start Maternity Grant (SF100) claim form, which you can download online or request a copy of through the post. Make sure you get a doctor or midwife to fill out the statement on page 10 of the form. If you’re running short on time, you can send the form off without this and they’ll be in touch to sort it out later. Once you’ve got everything filled out, you can either post the form to “Freepost DWP SSMG” or take it to your local Jobcentre Plus. Then sit tight and wait for your letter telling you if your claim was successful.
If you don’t qualify for the Sure Start Maternity Grant, don’t worry – there are plenty of other government grants and money-saving schemes available to help out new parents on a budget. For instance, you could get up to £442 per year to put towards food and milk through the Healthy Start Scheme. Or if you haven’t already, make sure you claim Child Benefit – that’s worth up to £1,133 annually. Just be mindful of the High Income Child Benefit Charge if your household income is over £50,000. You’ll have to pay some of that cash back, so it’s best to factor that in.
