Raising a family is expensive at the best of times, and if you’re on a low income it can be a real struggle.

There is a range of financial support available for families which need it the most – find out if you’re eligible here.

Sure Start Maternity Grants (the Social Fund)

A Sure Start Maternity Grant is a payment of £500 which does not have to be paid back.

To qualify you or your partner must be receiving income based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit at a rate higher than the family element, or Working Tax Credit where a disabled worker is included in the assessment.

You should claim:

• Anytime from 11 weeks before the week the baby is due until three months after the baby is born

• If you are adopting - you should claim within three months of adopting and your baby must be under 12 months at the date of your claim

• If your baby is born by surrogacy - you should claim within three months of the order being made and you and your partner must have a parental order

Ask at your local Jobcentre Plus office, Social Security office or at the Pension Service for the SF100 Sure Start form to claim.

Funeral Payment (the Social Fund)

A Funeral Payment can help with the essential costs of a funeral, which you or your partner are responsible for arranging.

To qualify you or your partner must be receiving income based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit at a rate higher than the family element, or Working Tax Credit where a disabled worker is included in the assessment. 

The payment is recoverable from any money available from the deceased person’s estate. 

Ask at your local Jobcentre Plus for a claim form and more information.

Community Care Grants (the Social Fund)

A Community Care Grant (from £30 up to £1,000) does not have to be paid back.

To be eligible you must be getting Income Support or income based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Pension Credit, or payment on account of one of these, or are likely to get one of these benefits or entitlements when you move out of residential or institutional accommodation.

Grants may be awarded to help people:

• Who are leaving accommodation in which they receive care
• Continue to live in the community
• On a resettlement programme to set up home

Grants can also be awarded to help ease exceptional pressures on families, to care for a prisoner or young offender released on temporary license, or to help with certain travel costs.

Ask at your local Jobcentre Plus for a claim form and more information.

Budgeting Loans (the Social Fund)

Budgeting loans are interest-free (from £30 up to £1,000 in total) for the cost of things other than regular expenses (eg furniture, household equipment, clothing, footwear, things to help you look for or start work).

To be eligible you or your partner must have been getting Income Support or income based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Pension Credit, or payment on account of one of these, for at least 26 weeks.

Ask at your local Jobcentre Plus for a claim form and more information.

Crisis Loans (the Social Fund)

Crisis Loans are interest-free and can help if there is a serious risk to the health and safety of you or your family following an emergency or disaster. You do not need to be getting any benefits but you must be over the age of 16. Whether you can get a Crisis Loan will depend on your particular circumstances.

Ask at your local Jobcentre Plus for a claim form and more information.

Working Tax Credit

To claim Working Tax Credit, you have to be aged 16 or over, work for 16 hours or more a week and either:

• Be responsible for a child or a qualifying young person
• Have a disability that puts you at a disadvantage in getting a job
• Be aged 50 or over and be returning to work after a period on benefit

If none of these apply you must be aged 25 or over and usually be working at least 30 hours a week.

As part of Working Tax Credit you may qualify for help towards the costs of childcare (known as the childcare element) — this is worth up to 80 per cent of your childcare costs up to a maximum of £175 for one child and £300 for two or more children each week.

For more information on financial help for parents and children, visit www.direct.gov.uk.