Sure Start Maternity Grant

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How to claim

You can claim from 11 weeks before the week your baby is due. The latest you can claim is 6 months after your baby is born.

If you’re becoming responsible for a child, you must claim within 6 months of this happening. For example, if you’re adopting a child, you must claim within 6 months of the child being placed with you.

Claim by post

Print out and fill in the Sure Start Maternity Grant (SF100) claim form.

You also need to provide evidence of the pregnancy or childbirth from a health professional (such as a doctor or midwife). They can either:

  • fill in a form MAT B1 (they should have a copy of the form already)
  • write a statement confirming the pregnancy or childbirth

Post your SF100 form with the evidence of the pregnancy or childbirth to ‘Freepost DWP SSMG’. You do not need a postcode or a stamp.

You can send your form without the evidence of the pregnancy or childbirth if necessary to meet the deadline. If you do this, you’ll be contacted about arranging this evidence at a later date.

There’s a different form and postal address if you live in Northern Ireland.

You will get a letter about whether your claim is successful within 28 days of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) receiving your form and evidence. If you’ve recently made a new Universal Credit claim, it could take longer.

Get help with your claim

Call the Sure Start Maternity Grant helpline.

Sure Start Maternity Grant helpline
Telephone: 0800 169 0140
Textphone: 0800 169 0286
Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 169 0140
British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service if you’re on a computer - find out how to use the service on mobile or tablet
Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm
Welsh language: 0800 169 0240
Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm
Find out about call charges

You can also contact Jobcentre Plus.

Alternative formats

Call the Sure Start Maternity Grant helpline to ask for alternative formats, such as braille, large print or audio CD.

If you disagree with a decision

You can challenge a decision about your claim. This is called asking for mandatory reconsideration.

View a printable version of the whole guide

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