In this article
- Child benefit
- Maternity and paternity pay and leave
- Will my employer add to my maternity benefits?
- NHS care when you’re pregnant
- Universal credit
- Council tax help
- Maternity grants
- Healthy Start
- I’m a student. What benefits can I get?
- I’m a single parent. What other help is there?
- I’m a carer, not a parent. Can I claim benefits?
Child benefit
All parents are entitled to claim child benefit. Child benefit is paid for each child too, although a higher amount is paid for your first child than any subsequent children. If you or your partner earn over a set amount too you may not get the full amount of child benefit. HM Revenue & Customs has details of how to claim child benefit.Maternity and paternity pay and leave
Statutory maternity pay
Statutory maternity pay (SMP) lasts for 39 weeks. SMP pays a standard weekly rate or 90 per cent of your average weekly earnings before tax, whichever is less.Not everyone is eligible for SMP. You must have worked for your employer for at least 26 weeks by the end of the 15th week before your due date. You can work this out by finding the Sunday of the week your baby is due and counting back 15 weeks. If you aren't eligible for SMP, find out from your local Jobcentre Plus office if you are eligible for maternity allowance.
Maternity allowance
You can claim this if you've changed jobs during pregnancy, are self-employed, or have been unemployed during pregnancy.Maternity leave
Ordinary maternity leave lasts for 26 weeks. Additional maternity leave will last for 26 weeks from the end of ordinary maternity leave, so your maximum leave entitlement could be 52 weeks.You do not have to take all of your maternity leave. However, you must take two weeks' compulsory maternity leave after your baby is born. If you work in a factory, this will be four weeks.
Ordinary paternity pay and leave
You can have up to two weeks of paternity leave after your baby's birth, during which you can have ordinary statutory paternity pay (OSPP). To quality for this, one of the following should apply to you:- you have worked for your employer for at least 26 weeks by the end of the 15th week before the week the baby is due
- you are the baby's biological father or the mum's husband or partner
- you have, or expect to have, responsibility for the baby's care
- you are an employee with a contract of employment
You’ll get the standard amount or 90 per cent of your average weekly earnings, whichever is less.
You can choose when to start your paternity leave. It must be within eight weeks of your baby's birth, and you must take your leave in one go rather than odd days off. If you decide to take two weeks' leave, you will have to take them together.
Adoption leave
Parents who are adopting a child will be eligible for paid adoption leave for the same period and at the same flat rate as statutory maternity pay. Only one person in a couple can take adoption leave, but your partner may take paternity leave.There are some circumstances in which you won't qualify for adoption leave or pay. For example, if you're arranging a private adoption, or adopting a family member or stepchild.
Unpaid parental leave
Unpaid parental leave allows mums and dads to take time off work to improve their child's welfare. This may include settling a child into childcare, looking at new schools or attending a family event.Working parents with responsibility for raising their children can take this if they've been with their employer for at least one year. Each parent can take a total of up to 18 weeks' unpaid parental leave for each of their children. This can be taken any time up to your child's 18th birthday, although you can't take more than four weeks in any one year.
Shared parental leave
Shared parental leave allows mums to share their 52 weeks of maternity leave with their partner. It's designed to give parents more choice and flexibility in sharing the care of their new baby.You and your partner can choose to take shared parental leave at the same time, to be together at home with your baby. Or you can alternate who goes back to work and who stays at home.
If you're eligible for maternity pay or paternity pay, you probably qualify for statutory shared parental pay. Each parent can receive this payment. It can be paid for up to 39 weeks per couple, minus any weeks of maternity pay that has already been taken.
Will my employer add to my maternity benefits?
The government sets the minimum that you should get. However, a growing number of employers recognise the value of offering good maternity policies, which are better than the statutory minimum. They see it as a way of retaining their valuable staff and offering them support.Check your employment contract or talk to your human resources (HR) department to find out if you are entitled to any additional benefits.
NHS care when you’re pregnant
You will be able to receive free dental care and free prescriptions while you’re pregnant and until your baby is a year old. It doesn’t matter how much you earn, all new mums and mums-to-be are entitled to this. Ask your GP or midwife for an exemption certificate at your booking appointment. Children, too, are entitled to these benefits.Universal credit
Universal credit replaced child tax credit and other benefits for families and low earners in 2018. If you were already claiming any of these benefits then you’ll continue to get them for the time being and can claim for any additional children by reporting a change of circumstance. Any claims made after April 2018 will be for universal credit which aimed to streamline single payment monthly.If you’re unsure whether you’re entitled to universal credit, the best advice is to apply anyway, just in case. HM Revenue & Customs has more information and an online questionnaire you can fill in to find out if you qualify. You can phone the tax credit helpline on 0345 300 3900, or use the textphone service on 0345 300 3909.
Council tax help
If you’re on a low income and receive certain benefits, you may also be able to get a council tax reduction. You should contact your local council for more information and to apply.Maternity grants
If you're on a low income and receive certain benefits, you can claim a Sure Start maternity grant. This is a one-off lump sum to help you buy clothes and equipment for your first child only. You don't have to pay it back. Find out whether you qualify for the Sure Start maternity grant.Healthy Start
You may also be able to claim for free milk, free vitamins and cheaper formula milk through the NHS Healthy Start programme. It's available to women who are pregnant and to families with a child under four years old and who receive certain benefits. If you're pregnant and under 18, you'll qualify whether or not you receive benefits.I’m a student. What benefits can I get?
If you are pregnant and under 18 years old, you will automatically qualify for the Healthy Start scheme. If you’re under 20 years old and in education In England, the Care to Learn scheme can help you pay for the cost of childcare.You can claim Care to Learn funding if you are under 20 years old and you:
- Start a course of learning or training in a school or sixth-form college that receives some public funding.
- Use a childcare provider registered with Ofsted. You can learn more about this at GOV.UK.
- Care for your own child. That means both mums and dads are eligible.
- Live in England.
You may also be able to claim a 16-year-old to 19-year-old bursary through your school or college.