Sure Start Maternity Grant: £500 for your first baby you don't repay

The Sure Start Maternity Grant is a one-off payment of £500 for a new baby, for families on certain benefits. You do not have to repay it, and it does not reduce your other benefits. It is available in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; Scotland has the Pregnancy and Baby Payment instead.

Who can get it?

The grant is usually for your first child. If you already have children under 16 you normally cannot get it — but there are exceptions: a multiple birth such as twins or triplets, caring for someone else's child (not your partner's), having refugee status or humanitarian protection, coming to the UK from Afghanistan or Ukraine, and claiming for a family member under 16 (or 16–19 in approved education) who is expecting their first baby.

Which benefits do you need?

You or your partner must be getting one of: Universal Credit, Pension Credit or income-related Employment and Support Allowance. You may also qualify if you have a Support for Mortgage Interest loan. The full list of conditions is on GOV.UK; if you receive any of these benefits, it is worth checking.

When and how do you claim?

You claim on form SF100 within a window running from 11 weeks before the due date to 6 months after the birth. Miss that window and the grant cannot be paid. A health professional (a doctor or midwife) must sign the form to confirm the pregnancy or birth. You get the form from GOV.UK or Jobcentre Plus and send it by post.

Why it is worth checking

£500 is a meaningful sum for a young family, and the condition is simple: be on a qualifying benefit and claim in time. Many people miss out simply because they do not know the grant exists. If you are unsure whether one of the exception categories applies to you, claim anyway — the DWP will decide.