Sure Start Maternity Grant vs Best Start Grant
DWP (England, Wales, Northern Ireland) vs Social Security Scotland
The short answer
Best Start Grant is substantially more valuable per child. If you live in Scotland and qualify for a passporting benefit, claim Best Start Grant in all three windows.
Sure Start Maternity Grant is a one-off £500 for the first child only. Best Start Grant in Scotland is three separate payments — Pregnancy & Baby, Early Learning, and School Age — with no first-child restriction, totalling up to ~£1,400 per child over time.
- England
- Wales
- Northern Ireland
Sure Start Maternity Grant
Administered by DWP. Applies in England, Wales, Northern Ireland.
A one-off £500 DWP payment in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland for first-time parents on qualifying benefits, or multiple-birth parents already with children.
- Scotland
Best Start Grant
Administered by Social Security Scotland. Applies in Scotland.
Three separate Social Security Scotland one-off payments (Pregnancy and Baby, Early Learning, School Age) for low-income Scottish families, plus the ongoing Best Start Foods prepaid card.
Rates side-by-side
| Rate | Amount | Period |
|---|---|---|
| One-off maternity grant | £500 | ONE OFF |
| Rate | Amount | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Best Start Foods — ages 1 to 3 | £22.40 | FOUR WEEKLY |
| Best Start Foods — birth to age 1 | £44.80 | FOUR WEEKLY |
| Best Start Foods — during pregnancy | £22.40 | FOUR WEEKLY |
| Early Learning Payment | £331.95 | ONE OFF |
| Pregnancy and Baby Payment — first child | £796.65 | ONE OFF |
| Pregnancy and Baby Payment — later child | £398.35 | ONE OFF |
| School Age Payment | £331.95 | ONE OFF |
Eligibility side-by-side
- HOUSEHOLDMust be expecting a first child, or expecting a multiple birth when there are already other children in the household. [GOV.UK]
- OTHERClaimant or partner must be receiving one of the qualifying benefits: Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based JSA, income-related ESA, Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit with the disability or severe disability element, or Housing Benefit. [GOV.UK]
- OTHERClaim window runs from 11 weeks before the baby's due date to 6 months after the baby's birth. [GOV.UK]
- RESIDENCESure Start Maternity Grant is only available in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland pays Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment instead. [GOV.UK]
- RESIDENCEClaimant must live in Scotland. [Scottish Government]
- OTHERClaimant (or their partner) must be receiving one of the qualifying benefits: Universal Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit. [Scottish Government]
- AGEClaimants under 18 can get payments without a qualifying benefit if they are responsible for the child. [Scottish Government]
- OTHERPregnancy and Baby Payment claim window runs from 24 weeks of pregnancy until the baby is 6 months old (or 1 year for kinship/guardianship carers). [Scottish Government]
- AGEEarly Learning Payment is payable only while the child is aged between 2 years and 3 years 6 months. [Scottish Government]
- OTHERSchool Age Payment is claimable only in the year the child is first old enough to start primary school; application windows run from 1 June to the end of February. [Scottish Government]
- + 1 more rule on the detail page.
Which one applies to you?
These benefits are paired: each person qualifies for one of the two depending on where they live. Run the triage tool for a nation-aware answer.