Maternity Pay, Paternity Pay and Family Benefits UK 2026/27Benefits 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.
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 £123+/week, 26 weeks with employer |
| First 6 weeks | 90% of average weekly earnings |
| Next 33 weeks | £187.18/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 | £187.18/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) | £707.25 |
| Pregnancy and Baby Payment (subsequent children) | £353.65 |
| Early Learning Payment (child between 2-3.5 years) | £294.70 |
| School Age Payment (child starting school) | £294.70 |
Healthy Start Vouchers
| Feature | Detail |
|---|
| Amount | £4.25/week (pregnant), £8.50/week (baby under 1), £4.25/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: £287.92/month |
| First child | Higher rate child element may apply |
| Childcare costs | Up to 85% covered by UC childcare element |
Workplace Rights
| Right | Detail |
|---|
| Paid time off for antenatal appointments | Including travel time |
| Maternity leave | Up to 52 weeks (39 weeks paid) |
| Protection from dismissal | Cannot be dismissed because of pregnancy |
| Risk assessment | Employer must assess workplace risks |
| Right to return | To the same or equivalent job |