Sure Start Maternity Grant Calculator
Check whether you qualify for the one-off £500 Sure Start Maternity Grant. Answer three quick questions about your benefits, your first baby and any multiple birth to see your eligibility and the amount you could claim.
Maternity grant eligibility checker
See if you can claim the £500 grant.
This is a guide. Confirm and apply on GOV.UK.
What is the Sure Start Maternity Grant?
The Sure Start Maternity Grant is a one-off payment of £500 to help with the cost of having a baby. It is paid by the Department for Work and Pensions to families on certain low-income benefits in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. (In Scotland the equivalent help is the Scottish Government's Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment, which works slightly differently.) The grant is genuinely free money: you never have to repay it, it is not taxed, and it does not reduce any of your other benefits or tax credits.
The grant is £500, paid once. It is usually only for your first child — but if you are expecting twins or triplets and already have children, you can claim £500 for each extra baby beyond your existing family.
Who qualifies for the £500 grant?
To get the Sure Start Maternity Grant, two things normally need to be true at the same time. First, you or your partner must be receiving a qualifying benefit. Second, there must be no other children under 16 already in your household — in other words, this is your first child. The multiple-birth rule is the main exception to that second condition.
The qualifying benefits are:
- 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 can also claim if you are getting a Support for Mortgage Interest loan. If neither you nor your partner gets one of these, you will not be eligible no matter how many children you have.
The first-child rule and multiple births
The grant is designed to help with the costs of your first baby — the cot, pram, clothes and other one-off purchases that come with a new arrival. That is why, in most cases, you cannot claim again for a second or third child if you already have a young family. The system counts any child under 16 already living with you.
The important exception is a multiple birth. If you already have children and are now expecting twins, you can claim £500 for the additional baby. With triplets in an existing family you can claim £500 for each of the two extra babies. If twins are your first children, you can still only claim a single £500 grant, because the grant is per pregnancy when it is your first family — the extra payments specifically cover babies beyond the number you already had.
How and when to claim
You claim using form SF100 (Sure Start), available from GOV.UK or your local Jobcentre Plus. A health professional such as a midwife or doctor must sign part of the form to confirm the pregnancy or birth. You can apply from 11 weeks before your due date and up to 6 months after the baby is born — miss that window and you lose the entitlement, so it is worth applying early.
If you are unsure whether your benefit qualifies or whether the multiple-birth rule applies to you, the free advice service at Citizens Advice can check your circumstances and help you complete the form. Charities such as Turn2us also run benefits calculators that flag grants like this one.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Sure Start Maternity Grant?
The Sure Start Maternity Grant is a one-off payment of £500. You do not have to pay it back and it does not affect your other benefits or tax credits.
Who can get the Sure Start Maternity Grant?
You usually qualify if you (or your partner) get a qualifying benefit such as Universal Credit, Income Support or Pension Credit, and there are no other children under 16 in your household — unless you are expecting a multiple birth.
Can I get £500 if I already have children?
Normally the grant is only for your first child. The exception is a multiple birth — if you already have children and are now expecting twins or triplets, you can claim £500 for each additional baby beyond your existing family.
What is the deadline to claim the Sure Start Maternity Grant?
You can claim from 11 weeks before your due date up to 6 months after the baby is born. Use form SF100 (Sure Start) and submit it to Jobcentre Plus.
Does the Sure Start Maternity Grant affect my other benefits?
No. The £500 grant is a one-off, tax-free payment that does not need to be repaid and does not reduce Universal Credit, tax credits or any other benefit you receive.