Archive Website of the UK government

Rules for Sure Start Maternity Grant

The following rules apply for Sure Start Maternity Grants.

Payment for your new baby and any other babies born at the same time

You can only get a Sure Start Maternity Grant if there are no other children under 16 years in your family.

Payment for your dependent child’s new baby and any other babies born at the same time

You can only get a Sure Start Maternity Grant if your dependant is under 20 years and has no other children.

Extension to the rules for Sure Start Maternity Grant

The current rules have been extended to allow a Sure Start Maternity Grant to be paid in some circumstances when there is a multiple birth. This is where there is already a child or children under the age of 16 in the family. This applies to claims made from 13 August 2023 for babies that are:

• due on or after 29 October 2023
• born on or after 29 October 2023
• adopted or in similar arrangements on or after 29 October 2012.

If you are expecting a multiple birth on or after 29 October 2023

In some circumstances you can get a Sure Start Maternity Grant if you already have a child or children under the age of 16 in your family.

The amount you can get depends on whether the number of babies expected or born is more than the number of children already in the family.

Examples

There are two children aged eight and ten in the family and triplets are expected. A Sure Start Maternity Grant will be payable for two of the new babies.

There are twins aged four in the family from a previous multiple birth and triplets are expected. A Sure Start Maternity Grant will be payable for one of the new babies.

If your dependant is under the age of 20

If your dependant is:

• under the age of 20
• expecting a multiple birth on or after 29 October 2023

In some circumstances you can get a Sure Start Maternity Grant if your dependant already has a child or children.

The amount you can get depends on whether the number of babies expected or born is more than the number of children already in the family.

Examples

Your dependant already has two children aged one and two and is now expecting twins. A Sure Start Maternity Grant will be payable for one of the new babies

Your dependant has twins aged two and is now expecting triplets. A Sure Start Maternity Grant will be payable for one of the new babies.

Who can get a Sure Start Maternity Grant?

You can get a Sure Start Maternity Grant if you or your partner, receive any of the following on the date you claim:

and if one of the following applies to you on the date you claim:

• you or your partner are pregnant and expecting a baby within 11 weeks or have given birth within the last three months
• a dependent child you receive benefit for is expecting a baby within 11 weeks or has given birth within the last three months
• you are not the mother and have become the responsible lone parent of a baby no more than one year old
• you or your partner have been granted an adoption or a residence order for a baby no more than one year old
• you and your partner have been granted a parental order for a surrogate birth and the baby is no more than one year old
• you or your partner have been appointed the guardian of a baby no more than one year old
• you or your partner have had a baby placed with you for adoption by an agency and the baby is no more one year old
• you or your partner have adopted a baby abroad and the baby is no more than one year old

The term partner is used here to mean:

How much do you get?

In some circumstances, you can get £500 for each baby. Your savings won't affect the grant.

How is a Sure Start Maternity Grant paid

All benefits, pensions and allowances are paid into an account. This is the safest, most convenient and efficient method of payment.

• How benefits and pensions are paid

How to claim Sure Start Maternity Grant

You can apply for a Sure Start Maternity Grant by completing claim pack SF100 (Sure Start).

You should return your completed claim pack to the following address:

Freepost Plus RSCE-EATS-AHAK
Wembley BDC
PO Box 110
London SW95 9EA

To get a claim pack, contact Jobcentre Plus. You can also download a claim pack from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) website.

• Download 'Sure Start Maternity Grant SF100 form' (PDF, 90K) Opens new window

• Help with PDF files

• Contact Jobcentre Plus Opens new window

Claiming Sure Start Maternity Grant in Northern Ireland

If you live in Northern Ireland you can apply for a Sure Start Maternity Grant by completing claim pack SF100 (Sure Start).

To get a Northern Ireland claim pack, contact the Social Security office. You can also download a claim pack from the nidirect government services website.

• Download 'Sure Start Maternity Grant SF100 form for Northern Ireland' (PDF, 192KB) Opens new window

• Help with PDF files

• Contact the Social Security Agency Opens new window

When to claim a Sure Start Maternity Grant

When to claim a Sure Start Maternity Grant depends on your circumstances. If:

• you, or a member of your family, is pregnant or has had a baby - you can claim from 11 weeks before the birth until the baby is three months old
• your dependant has become the responsible parent of a baby (but not the mother), you must claim within three months of them becoming responsible
• you’ve become the responsible parent of a baby (but not the mother), you must claim within three months of becoming responsible
• you’ve been granted an adoption, a residence or a parental order, you must claim within three months of the order being granted
• you’ve adopted a baby abroad, you must claim within three months of this taking effect or being recognised
• you’ve been appointed the guardian of a baby or had a baby placed with you for adoption by an agency, you must claim within three months of this happening

If you’re waiting for a decision on a qualifying benefit or tax credit, do not delay in making your claim. This is because you must still claim within the three month time limit.

Effect on benefits or tax credits

The Sure Start Maternity Grant won't affect your other benefits or tax credits.

• Tax credits - how to understand them

• How to find out if you qualify for benefits

What else you need to know

When you apply you’ll need to tell Jobcentre Plus:

• the date your baby is due
• the date of birth if your baby has already been born

If you have become the responsible parent tell Jobcentre Plus:

• when the baby came to live with you
• when you got the Child Benefit award

Jobcentre Plus will need to see original copies of papers if the baby you’re claiming for is the subject of:

• an adoption
• a placement for adoption
• a residence order
• surrogacy
• guardianship

You’ll also need to show Jobcentre Plus that you’ve been given advice on the health needs and general welfare of the baby. If you claim before the baby is born, you’ll also need to show that you’ve been given advice on maternal health.

There’s a certificate for this on the back of the claim form. You’ll need to get this signed by a health professional, for example:

• a community or hospital midwife
• a health visitor
• your doctor

You can get more information from Jobcentre Plus.

• Contact Jobcentre Plus

How to appeal

If you're refused a grant or if you have questions about your payment, contact Jobcentre Plus within one month of the date of the decision letter.

If you contact Jobcentre Plus later they may not be able to help you.

You, or someone else who has the authority to act on your behalf, can:

• ask for an explanation
• ask for a written statement of reasons for the decision
• ask Jobcentre Plus to look again at the decision to see if it can be changed - there may be some facts you think have been overlooked or you may have more information which affects the decision
• appeal against the decision to an independent tribunal - this must be in writing

You can do any of the actions listed above, or you can do all of them.

• Contact Jobcentre Plus

• How to appeal against a benefits decision