Last checked: 1 October 2026
Pregnancy can bring a surprising amount of paperwork as well as a new baby. The difficult part is often not knowing which help exists, when you can apply, or whether a scheme applies where you live.
This guide brings the main UK pregnancy and new-baby financial help into one practical timeline. It focuses on government and NHS support rather than retailer freebies. For commercial baby clubs and welcome gifts, see our Pregnancy & Baby Freebies UK 2026 guide.
MoneySavvyUK shares general information, not personalised financial, benefits or medical advice. Eligibility depends on your circumstances and rules can change. Always check the linked official source before applying.
Pregnancy benefits and grants UK: quick checklist
| Help | What it can provide | When to look at it | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maternity Exemption Certificate (MatEx) | Free NHS prescriptions; can also prove entitlement to free NHS dental treatment | As soon as pregnancy is confirmed | UK rules vary; NHSBSA guidance applies to England |
| Healthy Start | Help towards eligible food and milk, plus Healthy Start vitamins | From 10 weeks pregnant if eligible | England, Wales and Northern Ireland |
| Sure Start Maternity Grant | £500 one-off grant if eligible | From 11 weeks before the due week to 6 months after birth | England, Wales and Northern Ireland |
| Pregnancy and Baby Payment | £796.65 for a first child or £398.35 for a later child in the standard cases described by Social Security Scotland | From 24 weeks pregnant to baby turning 6 months | Scotland |
| Best Start Foods | Regular help towards healthy foods if eligible | During pregnancy and early childhood | Scotland |
| Child Benefit | £27.05 a week for the eldest or only child; £17.90 for each additional child in 2026/27 | After the birth is registered | UK |
| Universal Credit child amount | Possible extra Universal Credit for children if eligible | After the baby is born / when responsible for a child | England, Scotland and Wales; separate NI guidance |
As soon as you know you are pregnant: check your NHS maternity exemption
If you are pregnant, ask your midwife, doctor or health visitor about a Maternity Exemption Certificate (MatEx). NHSBSA says the certificate — rather than pregnancy alone — is what entitles you to free NHS prescriptions in England. A healthcare professional applies for it on your behalf, and a digital certificate can arrive by email once the application is completed.
If you do not have a valid exemption when claiming a free prescription, you may be liable for a penalty charge, so do not simply tick the maternity exemption box before your certificate is valid.
Pregnancy also brings entitlement to free NHS dental treatment, and that entitlement continues if you have had a baby in the previous 12 months. Proof can include a MAT B1, valid maternity exemption certificate, birth notification or birth certificate, depending on the circumstances.
Check the NHSBSA maternity exemption guidance and NHS dental eligibility guidance.
From 10 weeks pregnant: check Healthy Start
If you meet the qualifying conditions, NHS Healthy Start can help with basic foods and milk and also provides Healthy Start vitamins. Current NHSBSA rates are:
- £4.65 a week from the 10th week of pregnancy
- £9.30 a week for a child from birth to age 1
- £4.65 a week for a child aged 1 to 4
The money is added to the Healthy Start prepaid card every four weeks after a successful claim. Eligibility is more important than simply being pregnant: income and qualifying-benefit rules apply. Check your circumstances rather than assuming you qualify or do not qualify.
Check Healthy Start and apply.
Later pregnancy: could you get the £500 Sure Start Maternity Grant?
The Sure Start Maternity Grant is £500 and does not have to be repaid. It is generally aimed at people expecting their first child who receive certain qualifying support, but there are exceptions — including some multiple births and particular caring, adoption, refugee and other circumstances.
You can claim from 11 weeks before the week your baby is due until 6 months after the birth. In England and Wales the claim uses form SF100, with evidence of pregnancy or childbirth from a health professional. Northern Ireland has its own process.
Scotland does not use the Sure Start Maternity Grant; see the Scotland section below.
Check Sure Start Maternity Grant eligibility on GOV.UK.
If you live in Scotland: use the Scottish pregnancy and baby schemes
Scotland has a different system, so it is worth treating it separately rather than trying to translate an England-focused checklist.
Pregnancy and Baby Payment
Social Security Scotland’s current published amounts are £796.65 for a first child and £398.35 for a child after your first, with different rules and amounts possible for multiple births and some other circumstances. You can normally apply from 24 weeks pregnant until the baby is 6 months old.
Best Start Foods
Best Start Foods is separate help towards healthy food during pregnancy and early childhood for eligible families. The Scottish scheme uses a prepaid card and has its own income and qualifying-benefit rules.
Check Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods on mygov.scot.
After your baby is born: claim Child Benefit
For the 2026/27 tax year, Child Benefit is £27.05 a week for the eldest or only child and £17.90 a week for each additional child.
You can claim 48 hours after registering the birth. A claim can normally be backdated for up to three months, so leaving it too long can mean losing money you could otherwise have received.
There is another reason not to dismiss Child Benefit automatically: the person who claims can receive National Insurance credits towards their State Pension if they are not working or do not earn enough to pay National Insurance. Higher-income households should also check the current High Income Child Benefit Charge rules before deciding how to handle payments.
Check and claim Child Benefit on GOV.UK.
What happens to Universal Credit when your baby arrives?
If you receive Universal Credit, you may be entitled to an extra amount for a child who normally lives with you. An important 2026 change is that the Universal Credit two-child limit ended on 6 April 2026. Universal Credit now pays the child amount for every eligible child, although the benefit cap rules still apply and can limit the overall increase for some households.
Child Benefit is separate from Universal Credit. GOV.UK says Child Benefit only affects Universal Credit payments where the benefit cap applies.
Read the current GOV.UK Universal Credit guidance for families with children.
Your pregnancy-to-baby money timeline
When pregnancy is confirmed
Ask your healthcare professional about your MatEx certificate and check whether you could qualify for help with health costs.
From 10 weeks pregnant
Check Healthy Start if you live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland and may meet its eligibility rules.
From around 20 weeks
Your MAT B1 form is important for maternity pay or Maternity Allowance. Those employment and maternity-pay rules deserve their own guide, so I have kept them separate from this benefits checklist rather than squeezing them into one page.
From 24 weeks pregnant in Scotland
Check whether you can apply for Pregnancy and Baby Payment and Best Start Foods through Social Security Scotland.
From 11 weeks before your due week
If you live outside Scotland, check whether you qualify for the Sure Start Maternity Grant. Do not miss the six-month-after-birth deadline.
After the birth
Register the birth, then check Child Benefit and update any Universal Credit claim. Also remember that pregnancy-related NHS dental entitlement continues for 12 months after birth.
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland: why location matters
One reason pregnancy-benefit searches become confusing is that not every scheme is UK-wide. Scotland uses Pregnancy and Baby Payment and Best Start Foods rather than Sure Start Maternity Grant and Healthy Start. Northern Ireland has its own benefit administration and claim routes for some schemes. Always use the official service for the nation where you live.
Useful official starting points include GOV.UK, NHS, NHSBSA, mygov.scot and nidirect.
Common questions
Can I get pregnancy benefits if my partner works?
Possibly. Each scheme has different eligibility rules, and some consider household income or qualifying benefits. A working partner does not by itself answer the question. Check the specific scheme using the official eligibility tool or guidance.
Is MAT B1 the same as a maternity exemption certificate?
No. MAT B1 is evidence of pregnancy commonly used for maternity pay and benefit purposes. The MatEx certificate is the NHS exemption used for free prescriptions. Do not assume one automatically replaces the other.
Can I get Sure Start Maternity Grant for a second child?
Usually the grant is associated with having no other child under 16, but there are important exceptions, including certain multiple births and other circumstances. Use the current GOV.UK eligibility checker rather than relying on a simple “first babies only” rule.
Did the Universal Credit two-child limit end?
Yes. It ended on 6 April 2026. Current GOV.UK guidance says Universal Credit now pays the extra child amount for every eligible child. The benefit cap remains in place.
What should I apply for first?
There is no single order for everyone. A practical starting point is: sort your MatEx early, check Healthy Start from 10 weeks if relevant, note the Sure Start or Scottish grant application window, and claim Child Benefit promptly after registering the birth.
What this guide does not cover
This page is deliberately about benefits, grants and NHS entitlements. Commercial welcome packs, retailer baby clubs and samples are covered in our Pregnancy & Baby Freebies UK guide. For the next step, see our Maternity Pay & Maternity Leave Budgeting UK 2026 guide, covering Statutory Maternity Pay, Maternity Allowance, the maternity income drop and a practical savings framework. When you are planning purchases, our Budget Baby Essentials UK guide separates what you need before birth from what can wait or may be bought second-hand.
Last verified: 1 October 2026. Benefit rates, thresholds and eligibility can change. Check the official source before making a financial decision or application.