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Other financial help
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Money for maternity and adoption factsheet
Help with housing costs
If you pay rent and/or Council Tax and are on a low income you may be entitled to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit from your local council. Call and ask for a claim form - you will find their details in your local phone book. If you receive Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance you will automatically get the maximum amount of help available.
If you are claiming Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, you may get help with your mortgage interest payments and other housing costs. There is usually a waiting period before payments start - call the Lone Parent Helpline to find out more about this.
Grants and loans from the Social Fund
If you are entitled to Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, you may qualify for a Community Care Grant or an interest-free Budgeting Loan from the Social Fund at Jobcentre Plus. You may need to apply for a grant or loan for the expenses of having a new child that have not been covered by the Sure Start Maternity Grant. Call the Lone Parent Helpline for more information about these.
In an emergency or disaster anyone can apply for a Crisis Loan at the local Jobcentre Plus office if you do not have enough money for your immediate needs.
Help with health costs
Free prescriptions and NHS dental treatment are available for all pregnant women, from the start of the pregnancy and for 12 months after giving birth. Apply on form FW8 available from your GP or midwife, or, if you claim after the birth, form P11 available from your GP or from Jobcentre Plus. You will receive an exemption certificate.
You can also get help with these and other NHS costs, including fares to hospital, if you are on certain benefits or a low income. Call the Lone Parent Helpline for more about this.
Free milk, fruit, vegetables and vitamins
This is through the Healthy Start scheme. If you qualify you will get vouchers that can be exchanged for cow's milk (including infant formula milk) and fresh fruit and vegetables.
If you are pregnant and under 18 years, you qualify for the vouchers whether or not you are entitled to any benefits or tax credits. Otherwise, you will qualify if you are pregnant and/or have a child aged under 4 years and you are entitled to:- Income Support; or
- income-based Jobseekers Allowance; or
- Child Tax Credit and you are not working 16 or more hours a week and your income is less than £15,575 a year.
The vouchers are worth £3.00 per week. You are entitled to an extra voucher for each child aged under 1. You can get an application form from www.healthystart.nhs.uk or call 0870 155 5455. Your midwife, health visitor or other health professional will need to sign part of the form.
Child Trust Fund
This is a lump-sum payment of £250 or £500 for children from families who qualify for the maximum amount of Child Tax Credit. An extra £250 will be paid when your child reaches 7. You will be sent a voucher which has to be paid into a Child Trust Fund account. Money cannot be taken out of the account until your child's 18th birthday. Call the Child Trust Fund helpline on 0845 302 1470 or see their website, www.childtrustfund.gov.uk, for more information.
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