Financial support if you are expecting a baby
Maternity allowance
Maternity allowance is a payment you can get when you take time off to have a baby. You could get it if you:
- are employed but cannot get Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)
- are self-employed
- have recently stopped working
- take part in unpaid work for the business of your spouse or civil partner
You can get maternity allowance for up to 39 weeks. You can claim maternity allowance as soon as you’ve been pregnant for 26 weeks. Payments can start up to 11 weeks before your baby is due.
Antenatal allowance
We can help until you are 25 years old with £75 to help you purchase items in preparation for birth. These items can include those for personal hygiene and clothing.
You can request this by speaking to your personal advisor (PA).
New parent allowance
Until you are 25 years old, you are entitled to £100 to assist you in purchasing baby equipment and clothing.
This is available to you from 6 months before the birth.
Speak to your PA who will help you to purchase items.
Other help
If you are under 18
If you’re under the age of 18 and expecting a child, we will support you to access the things you will need through our corporate grandparent offer.
You and your social worker, PA and Family Nurse Partnership will talk to you about what you need. This can include:
- push chair
- cot
- baby food
- blankets and bedding
- nappies
- clothing for you and personal items for you
If you are 18 or over
If you need support to purchase items for your child, speak to your PA and they will see what Care Leavers Service can do to help you.
As corporate grandparents, we want to support you and your children. We can provide discretionary payments if you are struggling to provide for your child’s basic needs or put you in touch with services and organisations that can help.
We also want to support you and your baby to live a healthy lifestyle. Speak to your PA about what support you think would help you and where possible we will help you to achieve this.
We have a Care Leavers Young Parent Group you may wish to join. This group meet regularly and share parenting ideas and advice and offer each other support. They have also organised for you to receive a baby hamper they have put together for expectant mums and dads who are care leavers. Speak to your PA about this hamper and they will arrange for you to receive it.
You may be entitled to a £500 maternity grant from Sure Start for your first child if you are on certain benefits. You must claim the grant within 11 weeks of the baby’s due date or within 6 months after your baby’s birth. You do not have to pay the grant back and it will not affect your other benefits or tax credits. Your PA or social worker can support you to see if you are eligible. Find our more on GOV.UK about the Sure Start Maternity Grant.
There are also charities who can support you with getting the baby items you may need. Your PA can signpost you and help you to contact these charities.