When Can I Apply For A Maternity Grant? Click This! Update 04 / 2024

Updated at: 03-11-2022 - By: Sienna Lewis

I was wondering when I could submit my application for a maternity award. The due date is the anticipated time of your baby’s birth. The due date is just an estimate and can shift as the pregnancy progresses.

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It’s easy to feel like you’ve been pregnant forever, but in reality, a full-term pregnancy lasts only approximately 40 weeks (remembering that each week runs from Monday through Sunday).

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Weeks 28 and 29 are considered the last two complete weeks for baby development before birth because they include all seven days, not just five or six as some other months do.

Weeks 28 and 29 are the final full weeks for fetal development before birth since they contain all seven days instead of just five or six like some other months.

Who is entitled to the Sure Start Maternity Grant?

Sure Start Maternity Grant is a one-off payment of £500 to help you with the costs of a new child. You usually only get it if you have no other children aged under 16. You can only get it if you are on a “qualifying benefit” which covers the date when you make your claim. The benefits are:

You may qualify for a one-time grant of £500 from the government called the Sure Start Maternity Grant to help with the costs associated with having a child. As a general rule, you won’t qualify unless you don’t have any other kids less than 16 living at home. It’s only available to people who are receiving “qualifying benefits” as of the date their claim is submitted. Some advantages are:
The Sure Start Maternity Grant is a one-time payment of £500 to aid with the expenses of having a child. Only those without any other minor children are eligible for this benefit. You need to be receiving a “qualified benefit” as of the day you file your claim in order to be eligible. A few advantages are:
Allowance for unemployed people based on income.
Child Tax Credit that takes into account the child’s age or disability.
Disability or severe disability-related earned income tax credit.
Pension Allowance.
The New Universal Credit.

Having a child can alter your eligibility for certain government benefits, such as the Child Tax Credit and Universal Credit, so it’s important to find out if you qualify for these programs before giving birth.

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Strict time limits

It’s also important to file your claim before the deadline passes. It’s best to file a claim even if you’re not 100 percent sure you qualify, just to be safe. Make sure to file your claim within six months of the birth or adoption/parental order, whichever is later. How to submit a claim can be found on gov.uk.

You can claim a Sure Start Maternity Grant from 11 weeks before your baby is due up until six months after your baby is born. The adopted child must be younger than 12 months old at the time of the adoption grant application. You can also claim a grant if you have a residence order for a child under 12 months, or if you have a parental order for a child by a surrogate mother. In these cases you cannot claim any later than six months after the adoption, parental order or residence order.

Apply for the grant no later than six months after the birth of your child, regardless of whether or not you think you qualify (for example, while waiting for the outcome of your benefits application) (there is no point claiming before the birth unless you are on a qualifying benefit before your baby is born). There may come a time when you need to inform Jobcentre Plus (Northern Ireland’s Social Security Agency) about your receipt of Universal Credit or tax credits. If your benefits are altered or finalized after you’ve filed for the grant, you’ll need to reapply, but you should still do so within six months of the birth at the latest.

Experiencing Loss After a Stillbirth or a Newborn Death

If you qualify for the grant and have a stillbirth after the end of your 24th week of pregnancy or a baby which is born alive but dies shortly after delivery, you will be eligible for the grant.

What if I have other children?

You can usually only get a Sure Start Maternity Grant if you do not have other children aged under 16 in your family. However if:

If you don’t already have any children under the age of16, you probably won’t qualify for a Sure Start Maternity Grant. Still, if:
You are eligible for the Sure Start Maternity Grant even if you are already the parent of another child through kinship care, foster care, or adoption.
You are eligible for a Sure Start Maternity Grant for your second set of twins if you already have a child or children under the age of 16 from a previous pregnancy (you would not get a grant if you already had twins under 16 in your family). For those who qualify, the sum of £500 would be awarded in the event that a couple who previously only had one child had twins.
You’re saying that even though you already have kids under 16, you should still get a grant because the baby’s parent is under 20. (but not if the young parent already has children under 16 who live with you).
If the only parent of your household’s minor children is under the age of twenty and you qualify for a grant, then you may be eligible to receive financial support for your family (for example if your youngest child is 17 and has a child, and you are pregnant).
You are eligible for the Sure Start Maternity Grant if you are an asylum seeker who brought children with you to the United Kingdom and subsequently had another child while living there.

Unfortunately, you will not be eligible for a Sure Start Maternity Grant if you have already had children under the age of 16 and did not apply for the grant for them. This could have been because you did not know about the grant at the time or because you did not meet the grant’s eligibility requirements. Even if you already have a child under 16, you will not qualify if you do not have any baby items since you have either given them away or gotten rid of them.

Sure Start Maternity Grant How Much Will You Get

You will receive £500 as a normal payment, and there is no repayment required. However, if you already have children, you may be ineligible for SSMG.

Exactly how much will you receive if you currently have children under the age of 16 in your household? In that situation, you can only receive a grant for a second child if you (either):

Are you one of three? (e.g. a multiple birth).
caring for a child who does not belong to you (e.g. kinship care, fostering).

Pregnancy Grant Payment

The money is sent directly into your bank, building society, or credit union account, much like most other types of government benefits, allowances, and pensions.

Your benefits are paid out in a specific manner and at specific times, and this section of the document elaborates on this.

Sure Start Maternity Grant Eligibility

There must be no other children in the household, and both you and your spouse must be receiving at least one of the following benefits, in order to be eligible for the Sure Start Maternity Grant.

Earned Income Tax Credit for Children
Funding for unemployed people based on their income (JSA)
Employment and Support Allowance, based on income
Help with Money
Assistance with Retirement Savings Plans
Assistance for All
Worker’s Compensation (if it includes a disability or severe disability element)

If you acquire a Support for Mortgage Interest loan, you may also be qualified.

Even if you already have a child under 16, you may still qualify for the grant if (either)

Multiple babies are on the way!
You or your partner are not the biological parents of the dependent kid, and the child was beyond the age of twelve (12) months when you began providing care for them.

If you aren’t the one giving birth, then what?

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One of the grants to which you may be entitled during pregnancy is the Sure Start Maternity Grant. However, this might not be the case if you adopt or become a surrogate parent.

If you or your partner are receiving one of the qualifying benefits and the infant is younger than 12 months old on the date you file a claim, you may be eligible for additional support, depending on the type of benefit you get.

You’ve taken care of the baby, but you’re not the mother.
Was placed for adoption with you.
Approval to adopt a child from another country was granted.
Secured a court order allowing for a surrogate birth.
Serve as the minor’s legal guardian.
have a valid order of residence or adoption.

Sure Start maternity grant - BabyCentre UK

How to Get Sure Start Maternity Grant

To receive your £500, just follow these two simple steps:

The Sure Start Maternity Grant application form (SF100) can be downloaded from the GOV.UK website and printed out for completion. Get a doctor’s signature on your insurance claim form (e.g. a doctor or midwife).
Mail it to Freepost DWP SSMG (there is no need to write a postcode or affix a stamp).

If your claim is approved, you will be notified by mail. If you are receiving Universal Credit, the decision on your claim won’t be made until after your next payment.

When Can You Apply for Sure Start Baby Grant?

It is possible to file for benefits as early as eleven weeks before to the week in which your baby is due. However, claims must be filed no later than six months following the baby’s birth.

Similarly, if you take on parental responsibilities, such as through adoption or foster care, you have six months to file a claim.

The Sure Start Maternity Grant hotline number can be called, or the nearest Jobcentre Plus can be visited, for more information on filing a claim.

Support Line for the Sure Start Maternity Grant

To contact, dial 0800 169 0140.

To contact NGT via text relay for the hearing and speech impaired, dial 18001 followed by 0800 169 0140.

Additionally, the hotline serves as a means by which you can request alternate forms (e.g. audio CD, Braille, or large print).

Disagreeing with a Decision

Last but not least, what happens if you disagree with the outcome of your claim appeal? You can get the agency to review its decision if you know how to file for a mandatory reconsideration.

FAQs

What is the Sure Start maternity grant?

There is a one-time payment of £500 available to low-income parents through the Sure Start pregnancy award. Your bank, building society, or credit union account, if you have one, will receive the funds immediately if you qualify.

Without any other dependents under the age of 16, you are eligible for the award. Those who already have kids are still eligible to apply, though.

taking care of a child who is not your own and who is older than 12 months but not your partner’s
Is Multiple Pregnancy Expected?

The incentive climbs to £1,000 if you’re expecting triplets.

You won’t be eligible for the grant if you call Scotland home, but you might be for the Pregnancy and Baby Payment. Check out the mygov.scot website for more information on the Pregnancy and Baby Payment.

Can I get the Sure Start maternity grant?

For a Sure Start Maternity Grant, you must meet the following criteria:

In the latter stages of your pregnancy, with a due date approaching in just 11 weeks.
less than six months postpartum
Except in the case of a multiple birth (twins or more) or beginning to care for someone else’s child who is older than one year, you should not have any children under the age of 16 in your family.

At least one of the following perks is obligatory for you or your partner:

deduction for children’s taxes
credits for the working poor that take into account the disabled or the severely disabled
a deduction from your pension
a system of government-wide monetary assistance
Employer’s and Supporter’s Allowance, which is based on income
a stipend for job seekers based on their salary
Help with Money

You might be eligible for the grant if you are taking out a Support for Mortgage Interest Loan.

If you or your spouse receives one of these benefits and a newborn has entered your care within the past six months, you may be eligible for the grant.

However, despite not being the mother, you now have to care for the infant.
You’ve been entrusted with the adoption of the infant.
You are free to adopt a child from another country.
You’re the proud owner of a custody or residency decree.
A court has granted you legal permission to have a child via surrogate.
You have legal responsibility for a young child.

You can’t get the grant if your infant is older than a year old on the day you apply for it.

How do I apply for a Sure Start maternity grant?

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Fill out an SF100 claim form and have your doctor or midwife sign it if you believe you are entitled to the Sure Start maternity benefit. If you want to fill it out offline, head on over to GOV.UK and get the form there.

Your claim form needs to be signed by your attending physician or midwife. Your completed form can be returned to us via:

Sending it by free post to “DWP SSMG.” No postal code or stamp is required.
dropping it off at your neighborhood Jobcentre Plus. However, this route may lengthen the time it takes to process your claim.

Will getting the Sure Start maternity grant affect benefits I already claim?

The monetary award given to expectant mothers through Sure Start is one-time only. It is not required to be repaid and will not reduce any existing tax refunds or government benefits.

Can I ask my employer to extend my maternity leave?

You typically won’t be able to take more than 12 weeks out for maternity leave. In addition, if an employer chooses to extend a woman’s maternity leave beyond the standard six months, they must do so at the woman’s regular wage rate.

Even in the case of protracted unpaid maternity leave, companies must keep the post vacant until it is filled or until three years have passed after the employee’s departure.

Paid parental leave or not, a company’s hiring decisions may be influenced by factors like a candidate’s seniority in the company or the state of the labor market. These are murky waters, best explored with expert assistance.

How can I stay longer on maternity leave?

It makes financial sense to take a longer maternity leave if your salary is substantial. Staying at home with a child can save you money because your employer is not obligated to pay unemployment benefits if you return from maternity leave early.

Consider applying for short-term disability (STD) insurance via your company if you anticipate needing more time off between giving birth and returning to work. While recuperating and pregnant, STD pays all or a portion of your regular income.

Pregnancy-related medical concerns, such as morning sickness and pain associated with childbirth recovery, can persist for up to eight weeks after delivery. Remember that if your company offers short-term disability benefits, those will take precedence over this one.

How do I ask for an extension for maternity leave?

Talk to your management about how much time off you need if you are requesting a maternity leave extension. You can either approach them in person or send a formal request for a meeting in writing.

If you’re asking for FMLA leave without pay, try to give your employer at least 30 days’ notice. This affords your employer the opportunity to find a suitable replacement for your absence and make necessary preparations to minimize the impact on operations.

What should I wear at 12 weeks pregnant?

This is a common inquiry among pregnant women who are 12 weeks along in their journey. The first trimester of pregnancy is a great time to go shopping for maternity clothes and experiment with what fits best.

But if you’re still unsure or don’t know who to ask, check out the articles we’ve compiled below for some guidance. Here, you can find the information you need to become an expert on pregnant style.

What do I need?

You can find some of these goods below: An assortment of stretchy bottoms (instead of zippers). Wearing a jacket or blazer over a dress or a top and slacks is a common way to seem put together. Layering piece with enough elasticity to be worn before, throughout, and after pregnancy.

(such a long-sleeved top or leggings) to hide your growing belly. In addition, something lenient in case of episodes of morning sickness (e.g., an empire waist dress). Shoes with good arch support that are also comfortable to wear about the house.

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When do women start wearing maternity clothes?

Only pregnant women wear maternity clothes, however some start wearing them as early as the first month. The most common cause of this is the fact that many expectant mothers are unaware of their pregnancy because of missed or irregular periods or other circumstances that prevent early detection.

There’s no need to wait until you’re pregnant to start wearing maternity clothes, although it may feel strange if everyone else is still dressed normally.

What stores carry maternity clothes?

Retailers like Macy’s and Nordstrom, plus-size stores like Avenue Maternity, hip boutiques in major cities across the globe, online retailers like Amazon Prime and ModCloth, and many more stock a wide variety of options for expectant women’ maternity wear. Before making any purchases, be sure to read the store’s return policy.

Do you still get the 500 pound grant when pregnant?

For those who qualify, you could receive a one-time payment of £500 to help defray the costs associated with having a child. This is a Sure Start Maternity Grant. You will not be eligible for a Sure Start Maternity Grant if you are a resident of Scotland. Substitute the last phrase with “Pregnancy and Baby Payment” and apply for said benefit.

When can I apply for maternity grant UK?

Beginning eleven weeks before the week you are due, you can file a claim. You have until six months after the baby is born to file a claim. You need to file your claim within 6 months of being a legal guardian.