New parents are often so consumed by the immediate demands of a new baby that available financial support goes unclaimed simply because nobody had time to look into it. Here’s a rundown of the main sources of help worth checking.
The Sure Start Maternity Grant
A one-off, tax-free payment of £500 for families on qualifying low incomes or certain benefits, available for a first child (or if you’re having a multiple birth and already have children) - this must be claimed within a specific window around the birth (generally from 11 weeks before the due date up to 6 months after the birth), so it’s worth checking eligibility well in advance rather than discovering the window has closed.
Child Benefit: claim promptly, and claim regardless of income
See our dedicated article on Child Benefit rates and the High Income Charge for the full detail - the key point for new parents specifically is claiming promptly after the birth, since backdating is limited to 3 months, and claiming even if you expect to repay it all through the High Income Child Benefit Charge, for the National Insurance credits and your child’s automatic NI number registration.
Statutory Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, and Shared Parental Pay
Most employed parents are entitled to statutory pay during parental leave, though the specific rate and duration depend on the type of leave and your employment history - this is typically lower than full salary, which is worth factoring into household budgeting well before the birth (see our Budgeting series article on budgeting for a baby) rather than assuming income continues unchanged during leave.
Healthy Start
A prepaid card scheme for pregnant women and families with children under 4, on qualifying low incomes or benefits, providing funds specifically for buying fruit, vegetables, and formula milk - worth checking eligibility, since this isn’t as widely known as Child Benefit.
Tax-Free Childcare and free childcare hours
Once returning to work becomes relevant, Tax-Free Childcare (the government adding £2 for every £8 paid into a dedicated childcare account, up to £2,000 a year per child, see our ISA & SIPP series article on how salary sacrifice interacts with its £100,000 eligibility threshold) and the expanded free childcare hours entitlement for working parents from 9 months can substantially reduce childcare costs - worth researching well before returning to work, since some schemes require advance registration.
Universal Credit and the child element
For lower-income families, Universal Credit includes an additional amount for each child - worth checking eligibility even if you haven’t previously claimed benefits, since having a new child can itself change your eligibility position, and the two-child limit that previously restricted this element was abolished from April 2026, meaning larger families may now be entitled to more support than in previous years.
Council tax and other local support
Some local authorities offer additional discretionary support for low-income families with new children - worth checking directly with your local council, since these schemes vary considerably and aren’t always well publicised nationally.
A practical checklist for new parents
- Check Sure Start Maternity Grant eligibility before the claim window closes, if your income is low.
- Claim Child Benefit promptly, regardless of your income level.
- Understand your statutory pay entitlement and its actual rate well before your leave begins, to budget realistically.
- Check Healthy Start and Universal Credit eligibility, particularly if your household income has reduced due to parental leave.
- Research Tax-Free Childcare and free hours entitlement well before you plan to return to work.
The bottom line
New parents have access to genuine, sometimes underclaimed financial support - the Sure Start Maternity Grant, Child Benefit, Healthy Start, and childcare support schemes all exist specifically for this life stage. Checking eligibility for each, ideally before the birth rather than reactively afterward, ensures nothing is missed during an understandably busy and disorienting time.
This article is provided for general information and does not constitute financial advice. Eligibility and amounts depend on individual circumstances and can change - check gov.uk for current details.
Sources
- GOV.UK Sure Start Maternity Grant, Healthy Start, and Universal Credit guidance
- GOV.UK statutory parental pay guidance.
