To claim a maternity grant (also called a Sure Start Maternity Grant), a person, or her/his partner, must be receiving at least one of the following:
income support; pension credit; income-based jobseeker's allowance; child tax credit awarded at a rate higher than the family element (or family element and higher family element if s/he is responsible for a child under one); working tax credit which includes a disability element or a severe disability element.
A person who is an asylum seeker receiving support from the National Asylum Support Service can also claim help with maternity costs.
You can claim a maternity grant if you are at least 29 weeks pregnant, or have given birth to a child within the last three months; To claim a maternity grant, you must also prove that you have received advice from a health care professional. You can also get a maternity grant if you have adopted a child under one or have had a baby by a surrogate mother.
If you or your partner find out you are entitled to any of the benefits listed above after the baby's birth, you should make the claim for a maternity grant at the same time as claiming the benefit or tax credit. You should not wait until you actually receives your benefit or tax credit as the three month time limit for making the claim for the maternity grant may expire.
Either partner can make the claim. A claim for a maternity grant must be made on form SF100 (Sure Start) which is available from local social security offices and ante-natal clinics. You can also download an application on-line on the NIDirect website www.NIDirect.gov.uk
For more information on maternity grants and other help you can get visit www.adviceguide.org.uk
Please note that this answer is correct as of 06 August 2010