Sure Start Maternity Grant - What is a Sure Start Maternity Grant?

A Sure Start Maternity Grant is a one-off payment of £500 to help with the costs of having a new-born or adopted baby. It only applies to people living in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. If you live in Scotland, you might be able to get the more generous Best Start grant instead.

You will only get a Sure Start Maternity Grant if the new baby is the only child under 16 in the household. There are special rules that you may still be able to claim if you already have children under 16. 

You can choose how to spend the grant money. You do not have to pay the grant back and it won’t affect your other benefits or tax credits.

A Sure Start Maternity Grant does not count as income when calculating your entitlement to other means-tested benefits .

Applies to: England, Wales and Northern Ireland

Age rules: There are no specific age rules

Type of benefit: Means-tested

Taxable: No

Administered by: Department for Work and Pensions.