Sure Start Maternity Grant

The Sure Start Maternity Grant (SSMG) is intended to help you pay for the immediate needs of a new baby if you are getting a specified benefit or tax credit. It is not paid if there is another child under 16 in the family at the time of the claim unless the other child under 16 is:

• dependent on you or your partner and their baby is the subject of the claim in question, or

• one of twins or a greater number of children expected or born from the same pregnancy.

The grant is £500 in respect of each baby for whom an award is made. If you already have one or more children under 16 (and none of them are from multiple births) and you subsequently have twins, you will get a further £500; if you have triplets you will get £1,000. If you have already had twins and go on to have triplets you will get £500.

SSMG is paid from the Social Fund as a lump sum, and you do not have to pay it back. It is paid when the conditions above are satisfied. It is not limited by a budget and everyone who is entitled will get a grant.