Care and support

Social fund

There are 6 types of payments you may be able to get from the social fund

• sure start maternity grants
• funeral grants
• cold weather payments
• community care grants
• budgeting loans
• crisis loans

Sure Start Maternity Grant

This is a one-off payment of £500 to help with the expense of a new born baby. You can claim if you are getting income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance or pension credit. Some people on tax credits will also be eligible, if they receive more than the family element of CTC (£547.50 per year or £1095 if there is a child under one), or WTC with a disability or severe disability addition.

To qualify you will need evidence of having received advice from a health professional on the health and welfare needs of the new baby – there is a space on the application form for this. You must claim before the baby is three months old.

If your claim for a maternity grant is refused while you are waiting for a decision on a claim for a qualifying benefit, you should re-claim a maternity grant within three months of being awarded the qualifying benefit.

Claim on form SF100, from jobcentre plus by telephone on 0845 8500 032 or online at www.dwp.gov.uk.

For more information about other social fund payments, click on the link entitled claiming money from the social fund on the right hand side of the page.