Education and Child Matters

I AM L.I.P

I am a Litigant In Person

Maternity Grant

 

WHAT IS A MATERNITY GRANT?

This is a government grant called a sure start maternity grant.

It is a one off payment of about £500.

HOW CAN YOU QUALIFY FOR THIS GRANT?

  1. If you are pregnant with your first child OR if you are expecting more than one baby (twins triplets etc) and you already have children.
  2. You or your partner are claiming certain benefits.
  3. You can claim the maternity grant within 11 weeks of when your baby is due or within 6 months after the baby is born.
  4. You can claim this maternity grant within 6 months of a child being placed with you if you have adopted this child.
  5. You can claim this maternity grant within 6 months of a child under 12 months old being placed with you if you become responsible for them. 

ARE THERE ANY REASONS WHY YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET THIS GRANT?

Yes there are:

  1. You may not be able to get this grant unless your baby is the only child in your family under 16 years of age.
  2. You may not be able to get this grant if you care for a child under the age of 16 years in your household that is not your own.
  3. You may not be able to get this grant if you have step children or your partner’s children aged 16 years and under are living with you. 

IF A SURE START MATERNITY GRANT HAS ALREADY BEEN PAID FOR A BABY TO SOMEONE THEN UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS CAN ANOTHER PERSON GET PAID FOR THE SAME BABY AGAIN?

If a ‘sure start maternity grant’ has already been paid to you or someone else for a baby or babies, you can get paid another sure start maternity grant under the following conditions: 

  1. You are the kinship carer.
  2. You are not the mother but have become responsible for the child.
  3. You have been granted an adoption order
  4. You have been granted a residence order
  5. You or your husband/partner have been granted a parental order under section 30 of the human fertilisation and embryology act 1990 or section 54/54A of the human fertilisation and embryology act 2008.
  6. You have been appointed a guardian 
  7. You have had a baby placed with you for adoption by an agency.
  8. You have adopted a baby from overseas.

DOES THIS GRANT AFFECT ANY OTHER BENEFIT YOU ARE CLAIMING?

No it does not. 

DO YOU HAVE TO PAY THE GRANT BACK?

No you do not have to pay it back.

IS THERE A GOVERNMENT HELPLINE?

Yes there is.

Please call the sure start maternity grant helpline 0800 169 0140

HOW CAN YOU APPLY FOR THE SURE START MATERNITY GRANT?

You can contact your local jobcentre

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR JOBCENTRE PLUS

You can apply by post

You will need to download and print form SF100 then complete it by hand.

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR FORM SF100 

DO YOU NEED ANYONE PROFESSIONAL TO COMPLETE PART OF FORM SF100?

Yes you do. You will need to ask your doctor or midwife to complete a statement on page 16 of your form SF100. Your doctor or midwife can complete this statement when you send your form SF100 to the department of work and pensions or at a later date. The department of work and pensions will contact you to ask for this if you do not send it in with your form.