DWP £500 payment for new parents - check if you are eligible

The one-off lump sum payment from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is designed to help with the cost of caring for a new baby.

The boost, available to thousands on certain benefits, can be claimed up to 11 weeks before the due date of your child, or up to six months after the baby’s birth.

You will usually qualify for the grant if you are expecting your first childr, or if you are expecting multiple children (such as twins and triplets) and have children already.

You should also qualify if you or your partner already get certain benefits.

You do not have to pay the grant back and it will not affect your other benefits or tax credits.

The boost is known as the Sure Start Maternity Grant and is available to parents in England and Wales.

The Sure Start Maternity Grant is not available in Scotland. New parents in Scotland can instead apply for a Pregnancy and Baby Payment instead.

To qualify for the grant in England and Wales, a person or their partner must receive one of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element
• Universal Credit

You can find out more about eligibility for a Sure Start Maternity Grant here.

In order to claim for the support, a person must fill in the claim form found here.

A health professional such as a midwife or a doctor will need to fill in a statement as part of the application.

However, you can send the form without a statement if that is necessary in order to apply before the deadline.

If this is the case for you, you will be contacted at a later date to arrange the statement from the health professional.

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