Skip to navigation Your Situation Get Support Support Us Working With Us About Us Login Register Donate Home > Your Situation > Expecting a child Expecting a child If you are expecting a child through birth or adoption, there may be benefits, grants or other financial support available to you. : BenefitsGrantsAdvice and SupportFurther Information Resources Benefits To check what benefits you might be entitled to quickly and easily, you can use the Turn2us Benefits Calculator.Your benefit entitlement might be different immediately before the baby is born, after the baby is born, when your entitlement to Statutory Maternity Pay or Maternity Allowance changes, and when you go back to work. If you're trying to plan your finances, you might need to run a few different benefit calculations for different stages. To read more about the benefits available if you are expecting a child through birth or adoption, select from the list below: Statutory Adoption Pay - if you have worked for your employer continuously for at least 26 weeks by the week you are matched with a child for adoption by an adoption agency and you earn an average of at least £120 a week before tax. Statutory Maternity Pay - if you have worked for the same employer for at least 26 weeks by the time you are 15 weeks away from the date your baby is due and you earn more than £120 a week before tax. Statutory Paternity Pay - if you are a working father, or the partner of a woman having a child (including a same-sex partner) and you have been working for the same employer without a break for at least 26 weeks by the 15th week before the baby is due. You must also carry on working for that employer without a break up to the date the child is born or placed with you for adoption. You must also be earning an average of at least £120 a week before tax. Statutory Shared Parental Leave and Pay - If you live with a partner who is entitled to Statutory Maternity Pay, Maternity Allowance or Statutory Adoption Pay; and you have worked for the same employer for more than 26 weeks by the time the baby is due; and you earn more than £120 a week before tax, your partner can choose to share some of their leave and pay period with you. Maternity Allowance - if you are pregnant and you do not qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay from your employer or if you are self-employed. Do you have a work coach? If you have a work coach, you should let them know when you are pregnant and when the baby is due. Telling Universal Credit you're pregnant At 20 weeks pregnant you should be given your MATB1 form from your midwife. You should report this on your journal. If you aren't working and aren't exempt from work searching, you will be expected to keep looking for a job until you are 29 weeks pregnant, unless doing so would risk your health or your baby's health. Related Information Your Situation; Bringing up a Child England, Wales and Northern Ireland Healthy Start Food Vouchers Sure Start Maternity Grant Scotland Best Start Foods Best Start Grant - this replaces the Sure Start Grant in Scotland. You can get it even if you already have children. Grants To find out what help may be available from grant-giving charities, you can use the Turn2us Grants Search Advice and Support Turn2us is unable to offer advice on individual situations. To find an adviser in your area to discuss your situation with, you can use our Find an Adviser tool Further Information Resources Maternity rights advice line NHS Start 4 Life website Tommy's Pregnancy information service NHS resource area on pregnancy and baby guide Local Welfare Assistance ReUse network - a national network of shops selling affordable, second hand, high quality items If you are unable to afford essentials for your baby, such as clothes, nappies or a cot, ask your health visitor or midwife if there is a baby bank in your area they could refer you to. Baby banks give people free items to help them take care of their babies. Share this page: Useful tools A-Z Benefits Jargon Buster Benefits Information Universal Credit Benefit Changes Timetable Challenging Benefits Decisions Universal Credit System: Overpayments Benefits Overpayment Tax Credits Overpayment Other help Help with Housing Costs Debt advice and help Emergency information Struggling with Energy and Water Bills Sign up for our news Follow Turn2us Latest news Media centre Press releases eNewsletter Jobs at Turn2us Sitemap Safeguarding Complaints & feedback Accessibility Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Terms and conditions Registered office: Hythe House, 200 Shepherds Bush Road, London W6 7NL. VAT number 872571796. Turn2us is the operating name of Elizabeth Finn Care, a registered charity (207812 / SC040987) and a company limited by guarantee (515297) registered in England and Wales. Copyright © 2021 Turn2us