A new baby
A new baby brings new costs and often less income for a while. There is support available that many families miss.
First steps
- 1Check your maternity, paternity or shared parental pay.
- 2Claim Child Benefit — you can backdate it up to three months.
- 3See if you qualify for Healthy Start, the Sure Start Maternity Grant or Universal Credit.
- 4Update your budget for the months you will be on lower pay.
Help you may be able to get
- Statutory Maternity Pay or Maternity Allowance.
- Child Benefit for every child.
- Healthy Start vouchers for milk, fruit and vegetables if you are on certain benefits.
- Free prescriptions and NHS dental care during pregnancy and for 12 months after.
Useful links
Want to talk it through? It's free and confidential.