Benefits for Pregnant Women — Financial Support During Pregnancy
Complete guide to benefits and financial help for pregnant women in the UK in 2026. Covers Maternity Allowance, SMP, Sure Start, Healthy Start, free prescriptions, and UC during pregnancy.
Benefits information is based on current DWP and HMRC rules. Entitlements depend on your personal circumstances. For free personalised help, contact Citizens Advice or call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.
Contents
If you are planning pregnancy, maternity, paternity, and childcare support together, use the Maternity and Family Benefits Hub as your main navigation page.
Pregnancy unlocks a range of benefits and free services. Here’s what you can claim and when to claim it.
Timeline of Support
When
What to Claim
Early pregnancy
MATEX certificate for free prescriptions/dental
From 10 weeks
Healthy Start vouchers (if on qualifying benefit)
25 weeks
Notify employer about maternity leave
26 weeks
Claim Maternity Allowance (if not getting SMP)
29 weeks before due date
UC work requirements reduced
11 weeks before due date
Sure Start Maternity Grant / Best Start Grant
From due date
UC work requirements removed (15 weeks)
After birth
Child Benefit, UC child element, register birth
Free Prescriptions and Dental Care
Entitlement
Detail
Free NHS prescriptions
From pregnancy confirmation until baby is 12 months old
Free NHS dental treatment
Same period
How to get it
MATEX certificate from GP or midwife
Duration
Until 12 months after baby’s due date
Getting Your MATEX Certificate
Your midwife or GP issues form FW8
Send it to NHS Business Services Authority
You receive a maternity exemption certificate (MATEX card)
Show the card when collecting prescriptions or visiting the dentist
Maternity Pay and Allowance
Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)
Feature
Detail
Who qualifies
Employed, earning £129+/week, 26 weeks with employer
First 6 weeks
90% of average weekly earnings
Next 33 weeks
£194.32/week or 90% of earnings (whichever is lower)
Total period
39 weeks
Paid by
Your employer
Maternity Allowance (MA)
Feature
Detail
Who qualifies
Employed or self-employed, not qualifying for SMP
Test period
66 weeks before due date, worked 26 of those weeks
Rate
£194.32/week or 90% of earnings (whichever is lower)
Duration
39 weeks
How to claim
Form MA1 to Jobcentre Plus or online
Neither SMP nor MA?
If you don’t qualify for either:
Claim Universal Credit
Your UC work requirements are reduced/removed during pregnancy and after birth
You receive the standard allowance plus any applicable elements
Sure Start Maternity Grant
Feature
Detail
Amount
£500 (one-off)
Who qualifies
On qualifying benefit, first child (or multiple birth)
When to claim
From 11 weeks before due date to 6 months after birth
Form
SF100 (from Jobcentre Plus or gov.uk)
Qualifying Benefits
Universal Credit
Pension Credit
Income Support
Income-based JSA
Income-related ESA
Child Tax Credit (at a rate above the family element)
Working Tax Credit with a disability element
Scotland: Best Start Grant
Payment
Amount
Pregnancy and Baby Payment (first child)
£796.65
Pregnancy and Baby Payment (subsequent children)
£398.35
Early Learning Payment (child between 2-3.5 years)
£331.95
School Age Payment (child starting school)
£331.95
Healthy Start Vouchers
Feature
Detail
Amount
£4.65/week (pregnant), £9.30/week (baby under 1), £4.65/week (child 1-4)
What it buys
Fresh fruit, vegetables, pulses, milk, infant formula
Who qualifies
Under 18 and pregnant, or on qualifying benefit and pregnant/with child under 4
How to apply
healthystart.nhs.uk
Universal Credit During Pregnancy
Work Requirements
Stage
Requirements
Up to 28 weeks
Normal work-related requirements
29 weeks onwards
Reduced requirements
From due date
No work-related requirements
Until baby is 15 weeks old
No work-related requirements
Baby 15 weeks to 1 year
Work-focused interviews only
UC Payments
When
UC Change
During pregnancy
No extra UC payment
After birth
Child element added: £303.94/month (first child born on/after 6 April 2017, or subsequent child); £351.88/month if the first child was born before 6 April 2017
First child
Higher rate child element may apply if born before 6 April 2017