Pregnancy triggers several automatic entitlements and opens the door to financial support — some from week 10, some later in pregnancy, and more still from the birth onwards. Here is everything you can claim in the UK in 2026/27, roughly in order of when you can access it.
Benefits Timeline: Pregnancy and Birth
| When | Benefit | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| From week 10 | Healthy Start vouchers | £4.25/week for food, milk, vitamins |
| As soon as confirmed | Free NHS prescriptions | No prescription charges during pregnancy and for 12 months after birth |
| As soon as confirmed | Free NHS dental treatment | NHS dental care free during pregnancy and for 12 months after birth |
| From ~week 26 | SMP or Maternity Allowance claim | Can claim from week 26; payments start ~week 29 |
| Within 3 months of birth | Sure Start Maternity Grant | One-off £500 (if no other children under 16) |
| Within 3 months of birth | Child Benefit | £26.05/week first child, £17.25/week additional children |
| Anytime if low income | Universal Credit | Ongoing income support |
Free Prescriptions and Dental Treatment
As soon as you are pregnant, get a Maternity Exemption Certificate (MatEx) from your GP or midwife. This gives you free NHS prescriptions and free NHS dental treatment:
- During your pregnancy — from the date on your certificate
- For 12 months after the birth
The certificate is free and lasts until 12 months after your due date. Apply using form FW8 at an antenatal appointment.
Healthy Start Vouchers
If you are at least 10 weeks pregnant and receiving UC (with no earnings, or with a child element), Income Support, Income-related ESA, Child Tax Credit, or income-based JSA, you qualify for Healthy Start vouchers worth £4.25/week.
These are loaded onto a prepaid card and can be used at approved shops to buy:
- Plain cow’s milk
- Plain fresh, frozen, or tinned fruit and vegetables
- Infant formula milk
- Vitamins (from Healthy Start suppliers)
From birth, the voucher increases if you have a baby under 1. Apply at healthystart.nhs.uk.
Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)
SMP is paid by your employer if you qualify:
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Employed for 26 weeks | By the qualifying week (15th week before due date) |
| Minimum earnings | Average weekly earnings of at least £123 |
| Notice | Give 28 days’ notice (or as soon as reasonably possible) |
SMP rates 2026/27:
- First 6 weeks: 90% of your average weekly earnings (no cap)
- Remaining 33 weeks: £184.03/week (or 90% of average earnings if lower)
SMP lasts up to 39 weeks. You can return to work at any point and stop receiving SMP.
Maternity Allowance
If you do not qualify for SMP — because you are self-employed, recently changed jobs, or do not earn enough — you may qualify for Maternity Allowance from DWP.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Worked 26 weeks | In the 66 weeks before your due date |
| Earnings threshold | Average at least £30/week in any 13 of those 26 weeks |
Maternity Allowance rates 2026/27:
- Standard rate: £184.03/week for up to 39 weeks
- Lower rate (worked but earnings below threshold): £27/week
Claim at gov.uk/maternity-allowance or via Jobcentre Plus.
Sure Start Maternity Grant
A one-off £500 payment from the DWP Social Fund. You must:
- Be receiving a qualifying benefit (UC, income-related ESA, Income Support, Pension Credit, or Child/Working Tax Credit at qualifying levels)
- Have no other children under 16 living with you (first pregnancy or first multiple birth — twins, triplets etc. count even if you have other children)
- Claim within 11 weeks of the due date or within 3 months of the birth
The grant does not need to be repaid.
Universal Credit During Pregnancy
If you are on low income or out of work, you can claim Universal Credit throughout pregnancy. From 11 weeks before your expected due date, DWP moves you to the “no work-related requirements” conditionality group — meaning you have no job search obligations.
This group status continues for 15 weeks after the birth.
If you receive SMP or Maternity Allowance, this counts as income under UC and will reduce your UC payment — but will not usually eliminate it entirely at lower income levels.
Child Benefit: Claim From Birth
Child Benefit is not means-tested for amounts — you can claim it regardless of income. Claim within 3 months of the birth (backdating is limited to 3 months).
2026/27 rates:
- First or only child: £26.05/week (£1,355/year)
- Each additional child: £17.25/week (£897/year)
If either parent earns over £60,000, the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) claws back some or all of the benefit. But always claim first and manage the charge via Self Assessment — you may still be better off claiming even with the charge.
See our Child Benefit guide and Universal Credit guide for full detail.