Maternity Grant

If you are pregnant and in need of extra financial support, then you could apply for a Sure Start Maternity Grant. Read this page for more information. Call the helplines to find out if you can apply and how to do it.

About Sure Start Maternity Grants

In the UK, the Sure Start Maternity Grant is a one-time payment of £500. This grant is meant to help new parents with the expenses of having a baby. The grant is available for parents either expecting their first child or expecting a multiple birth if they already have other children. You will be eligible to apply for the grant if you are already receiving certain qualifying benefits. If you are not receiving one of these benefits, then they will not accept your application. You can make a claim at any time from 11 weeks before the due date to 3 months after. Once your child is born, you can claim Child Tax Credit and then apply for the grant.

Maternity Grant Contact Numbers

Contact the Maternity Grant team at the Department for Work and Pensions.

Maternity Grant Helpline

Before you apply for the Sure Start Maternity Grant, you might have a lot of questions about it. Call the number to the left to have your enquiries about the grant answered. They will be able to tell you in detail what it is and who can claim it. If you are trying to claim the grant, they can advise you on how to fill out the form or which documents you need to send with it. You can also make an appointment at the local Jobcentre Plus if you would prefer to discuss the Maternity Grant with somebody face-to-face and receive more advice in person. Since it is a single payment for expecting parents, claiming this grant should be straightforward.

Maternity Grant Eligibility

Parents cannot get a grant if they already have children, unless they are expecting multiple babies at once. You could be entitled to £500 if you have twins or £1,000 if you have triplets. Otherwise, if you will only be having one child and it is your first then you will receive the standard amount of £500. You can still claim the grant if you are having a child and any other children you care for are actually somebody else’s. On top of this, you must be currently in receipt of certain income-related benefits. Call the number to the left to check the criteria for the grant. You can also apply for it if you are becoming a parent without actually giving birth.

Maternity Grant Claims

Claims can take a couple of weeks to process at the Department for Work and Pensions, especially if they have a backlog to work through. Usually, you should receive a decision letter in the post and the money in your bank account within 10 working days. On some occasions, you may even discover that you have been paid before you receive the letter. If you have not heard anything back about your claim and more than two weeks have passed, call the number to the left. Enquire about the progress of your claim and they should be able to let you know whether or not they have approved it yet. There may be an issue with your application form.

Maternity Grant Payments

The £500 grant should be paid directly into your chosen bank account. It is a one-off payment, so you will not be able to receive it in instalments. You should not expect any follow-up payments after you receive the grant. This payment does not affect the Benefit Cap, nor does it count as income. This means that it won’t impact any other benefits you are currently receiving. The grant is not a loan, so you will not have to pay it back. Call the number to the left if your claim was approved but you didn’t receive the grant payment. Allow 10 working days for the payment to arrive in your bank account before you ring to check what is happening.

Maternity Grant Complaints

Sometimes the Department for Work and Pensions can make errors in filing or processing claims. If this happens to you and causes financial difficulties or negatively affects your health, you should complain to the DWP. Call the number to the left to make a complaint. They might ask you to provide documents as evidence to allow them to investigate your complaint. If the issue you are complaining about had a severe impact on you, then you should be able to claim financial compensation for this. You can also call to complain about the claims process if you found it difficult, or about customer service if the helpline staff mistreated you.

Maternity Grant Appeals

In some cases, your Maternity Grant may not be approved. If this happens and you do not agree with the decision, you can request a Mandatory Reconsideration. If you still disagree with the final decision after this review, you can appeal to a tribunal. You have one month from the date on your decision letter if you want to challenge the outcome. Call the number to the left if you wish to appeal against your Maternity Grant decision. You can call simply for an explanation of the decision or to find out which evidence you need to provide. Ask for advice on appealing if you take the case to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal.

Other Ways to Contact Maternity Grant

The Department for Work and Pensions does not run any online accounts for public support. Neither do they offer a public e-mail address for claimants to contact them directly about Maternity Grants. The best way to resolve queries or concerns quickly is to call on the phone. If you are applying for the grant, there is a form for you to print off and fill out. You can then mail it to Freepost DWP SSMG without needing to add  a stamp. Alternatively, you can complete the form and bring it to your nearest Jobcentre Plus. If you live in Northern Ireland, there are different rules for the Maternity Grant. Check the NI Direct website for support.