Guides › Public Services › Sure Start Maternity Grant: £500 for Your First Baby
Sure Start Maternity Grant: £500 For Your First Baby
You can get a one-off £500 Sure Start Maternity Grant if you or your partner get a qualifying benefit such as Universal Credit, and you are expecting your first child or a multiple birth. You do not pay it back. Claim from 11 weeks before the week your baby is due until 6 months after the birth, using form SF100. In Scotland you apply for a Pregnancy and Baby Payment instead.
At A Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
The Grant
Who Can Get It
You or your partner must get a qualifying benefit, such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit, Income Support, income-based JSA or income-related ESA. You usually need to be expecting your first child, or a multiple birth if you already have children. source
When to Claim
From 11 weeks before the week your baby is due, up to 6 months after the birth. If you adopt or become responsible for a baby, claim within 6 months. source
How to Claim
Post form SF100 with evidence of the pregnancy or birth, such as form MAT B1, to Freepost DWP SSMG. If the deadline is close you can send evidence later. You should get a decision within 28 days. The grant does not affect other benefits. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 6 monthsLatest claimAfter the birth or adoption
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Check you get a qualifying benefit.
Step 2 of 5
Ask your midwife for form MAT B1.
Step 3 of 5
Fill in form SF100.
Step 4 of 5
Post it to Freepost DWP SSMG.
Step 5 of 5
Ask for a mandatory reconsideration if refused.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
Mandatory Reconsideration (GOV.UK)
The first step to change a decision. Usually within one month.
Citizens Advice
Free, independent help with benefits, including challenges and appeals.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
You can claim before the baby is born, so do not wait until the last minute.
Rules here are for England and Wales. Scotland has its own disability and carer benefits from Social Security Scotland, and Northern Ireland benefits are run through nidirect.
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Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 16 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- hmrc.gov.uk/sure-start-maternity-grant/print Checked 16 October 2026
- gov.uk/mandatory-reconsideration Checked 13 October 2026