A Guide to Benefits if you are under 16 or under 18 and having a baby
Our mission is to remove the barriers that people with caring responsibilities face in the workplace. We provide advice on employment rights and in-work benefits. This article provides information on benefits that can be claimed if you are under 16 or under 18 and having a baby. If you need further advice please contact Gingerbread or Citizens Advice.
If you are under 16
If you are under 16, there are only a few benefits you can claim in your own right.
Benefits while you are pregnant
You will usually be eligible for the Healthy Start scheme which gives you a pre-paid card to help towards the cost of milk, fruit, pulses or vegetables whilst you are pregnant. You should ask your midwife about these. In Scotland, Healthy Start has been replaced by Best Start Foods
In Scotland only, you can get a Best Start Grant when you are pregnant or after your baby is born (you do not need to be on benefits).
Benefits when your baby is born
You can usually claim Child Benefit when your baby is born, but there may be a choice about whether you, or an adult you live with, claims it for your baby. Get advice if you are not sure what to do.
If you live with your parents or someone else who looks after you, they may be able to claim Universal Credit for you. Depending on their circumstances, they may also be able to claim the Sure Start Maternity Grant for you, and the Healthy Start scheme may carry on after your baby is born. If you live in Scotland, you can get the Best Start Grant after your baby is born if you haven’t already claimed it, and Best Start Foods can continue (you don’t need to be on benefits to get these whilst you are under 18).
If you are a single parent (not living with a partner) and you live in England or Wales, you can contact Gingerbread for advice. In Scotland, you can contact One Parent Families Scotland and in Northern Ireland, Gingerbread NI. If you live with a partner, you can contact our helpline.
If you are over 16, but under 18
Once you are 16, there are more benefits you can claim in your own right.
Benefits while you are pregnant
If you are under 18 and live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, you may be entitled to the Healthy Start scheme to help with the costs of milk, fruit, vegetables or pulses whilst you are pregnant. You should ask your midwife about this. If you are in Scotland, you can get Best Start Foods instead if you are under 18, and if you turn 18 whilst you are pregnant, these continue until the baby is born.
You may be able to get Statutory Maternity Pay or Maternity Allowance if you have been working and meet the usual conditions. Once you are 29 weeks pregnant, you may be able to claim Universal Credit. However, if you are still in full-time education, you will have to wait until your baby is born to claim this. Bear in mind though that claiming Universal Credit will mean it is not possible for someone else (for example your parents) to claim Child Benefit or a child element of Universal Credit for you.
If you are under 18, in Scotland you can get a Best Start Grant (you don’t need to be on qualifying benefits) once you are 24 weeks pregnant. If you don’t live in Scotland, you can’t get a Sure Start Maternity Grant unless you, or someone who claims benefits for you, are on a qualifying benefit (it may be payable once you are 29 weeks pregnant if you qualify).
Benefits when your baby is born
When your baby is born, you can claim Child Benefit . There may be an option for you to claim benefits or for your parents or carers to claim for you – if you are not sure which is best, you should get advice.
If you are not already claiming benefits, you can choose to claim Universal Credit when your baby is born. There may be a choice between you claiming Universal Credit and your parents or carers claiming Child Benefit and other help for you (if you are still in full-time education). You can’t do both, so seek advice if you need help to decide.
If you haven’t already claimed it, you or your parents/carers may be able to claim a Sure Start Maternity Grant for your baby, if it is your first child, depending on what other benefits you are claiming. In Scotland, this is replaced by the Best Start Grant and it doesn’t matter if you have other children. You will be entitled to the Best Start Grant if you haven’t already claimed it and you are under 18; if you have turned 18, it will depend on what benefits you or your family are on.
In England, Wales and N Ireland, you might be able to continue on the Healthy Start scheme but this will depend on what other benefits you or your family get. If you are in Scotland, you can get Best Start Foods, as long as you are under 18. Once you are 18, you may still qualify via benefits that you or your family are getting, or if you turn 18 whilst your baby is under 1, Best Start Foods will continue until your baby reaches their 1st birthday.
If you or your parents have come from outside the UK, whether you can claim benefits may depend on your immigration status. If you are not sure what to claim, you should get advice.
If you are a single parent (not living with a partner) and you live in England or Wales, you can contact Gingerbread for advice. In Scotland, you can contact One Parent Families Scotland and in Northern Ireland, Gingerbread NI.
If you are living with a partner, your rights to benefit will depend on the age of your partner and whether or not they are working. You can ring our helpline for more advice.
Your employment rights
If you are employed, you have exactly the same employment rights as any other employee. The only difference is the national minimum wage. All the information on our site about your rights at work applies. You can also look at the EHRC campaign Power to the Bump which is specifically aimed at young mums.
If you need further advice please contact Gingerbread or Citizens Advice.
This advice applies in England, Wales and Scotland. If you live in another part of the UK, the law may differ. If you are in Northern Ireland you can visit the Labour Relations Agency or call their helpline Workplace Information Service on 03300 555 300.
Our helpline and online contact form is now closed as we wind down our operations. Our free legal advice pages remain available and up to date until further notice. You can find a list of trusted organisations that may be able to help you below.
| Organisation and link to website | Area of Advice | Telephone |
|---|---|---|
| Employment Rights | ||
| ACAS | Acas gives employees and employers free, impartial advice on workplace rights, rules and best practice. We also offer training and help to resolve disputes. | 0300 123 1100 |
| Citizens Advice (England & Wales) | Citizens Advice is a charity which provides free, confidential, and independent advice on employment, legal, financial, housing, and consumer problems | 0808 223 1133 |
| Citizens Advice (Scotland) | Citizens Advice is a charity which provides free, confidential, and independent advice on employment, legal, financial, housing, and consumer problems | 0800 028 1456 |
| Maternity Action | Maternity and Parental Rights at Work and Benefits for Families & NHS charges for maternity care | 0808 801 0488 |
| Pregnant Then Screwed | HR Advice Line – for questions on employment rights, flexible working, parental leave or workplace discrimination | 0300 222 5799 |
| Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS) | The helpline advises and assists individuals on issues relating to equality and human rights, across England, Scotland and Wales. | 0808 800 0082 |
| Trade Union | If you are a union member, contact your union for support. If not, you may wish to join, but check whether support is available for existing issues. | |
| Health and Safety Executive (HSE) | Guidance on workplace health and safety rights and accepts reports of serious workplace health and safety concerns. | |
| Advicenow | Provides free legal information, guides, self-help tools and training to help people deal with legal issues and understand their rights. | |
| Protect | Provides advice and support to people raising concerns about whistleblowing | 020 3117 2520 |
| Zero Hours Justice | Offers information and support on the rights of workers on zero-hours and insecure contracts | 01904 900 151 |
| Legal Advice and Representation | ||
| Law Centres Network | Law Centres work within their communities to defend the legal rights of local people. You can use their website to find your local Law Centre. | |
| LawWorks | The LawWorks Clinics Network provides free initial advice to individuals on various areas of law including employment law, social welfare law, housing matters, consumer disputes, debt and welfare rights. | |
| Advocate | Advocate is a charity that finds free legal assistance from volunteer barristers | |
| South West London Law Centres | Provides free, independent legal advice to people who cannot afford a lawyer, including advice on employment, housing, debt, immigration issues. | 020 8767 2777 |
| Employment Tribunal Litigants in Person Support Scheme (ELIPS) | ELIPS provides pro bono assistance to unrepresented litigants. It currently covers London Central, Cardiff, Bristol, Midlands (West), Newcastle, Leeds and Manchester Employment Tribunals. | |
| Legal Aid Check your eligibility for Legal Aid online | Legal Aid funding is only available for employment cases involving discrimination. | |
| YESS Law | Employment law advice and support, including settlement agreements. Yess Law do not represent clients in Employment Tribunal Proceedings | 020 3701 7530 |
| The Free Representation Unit (FRU) | The Free Representation Unit (FRU) is a charity that provides legal advice, case preparation and advocacy in employment & social security tribunal cases if you have a hearing date at a tribunal in London and the South East and your case is referred by a referral agency | |
| Employment Tribunal Customer Contact Centre | Provides information about the Employment Tribunal process but does not offer legal advice. | 0300 123 1024 |
| Appoint a solicitor The Law Society provides information on finding a solicitor. | If you are able to afford to do this, you can instruct a solicitor who is an expert in maternity and family friendly rights. A good solicitor will give you honest advice about the strengths and weaknesses of your case, the likely costs and s/he should try to resolve your case as soon as possible and so keep the costs you have to pay to a minimum. | |
| Disability Law Service | Provide free legal advice on community care, employment, housing, discrimination, public law and welfare benefits to disabled people and their carers | 0207 791 9800 |
| Child Law Advice | Provided by Coram Children’s Legal Centre, advice for Litigants in person | |
| Rights of Women | Women’s voluntary organisation committed to informing, educating and empowering women concerning their legal rights | 020 7251 6577 |
| Benefits and Financial Support | ||
| Citizens Advice (England & Wales) | Citizens Advice is a charity which provides free, confidential, and independent advice on employment, legal, financial, housing, and consumer problems | 0808 223 1133 |
| Citizens Advice (Scotland) | Citizens Advice is a charity which provides free, confidential, and independent advice on employment, legal, financial, housing, and consumer problems | 0800 028 1456 |
| Advice Local | Your local guide to help with employment and work issues, benefits, money, housing problems and more | |
| Age UK | Provide free, confidential advice, practical support, and companionship | 0800 678 1602 |
| Carer’s UK | Provide advice on benefits, rights, and emotional and peer support. | 0808 808 7777 |
| Scope | Offers information, advice and support for disabled people and their families, including guidance on benefits, work and independent living. | 0808 800 3333 |
| NRPF Network | Provides guidance and resources on no recourse to public funds (NRPF) and support options for people affected by immigration-related benefit restrictions. | 0800 169 0283 |
| Maternity Allowance helpline (DWP) | Maternity Allowance is a government benefit for pregnant women or new mothers who do not qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) from their employer. | |
| HMRC Statutory Payment Dispute Team | Resolves disputes about entitlement to statutory payments, including maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental, parental bereavement and neonatal care pay. | |
| Pregnancy, Maternity and Baby Support | ||
| Maternity Action | Maternity and Parental Rights at Work and Benefits for Families & NHS charges for maternity care | 0808 801 0488 |
| Tommy’s | Provide advice and support to parents-to-be, expectant parents, and families who have experienced baby loss | 0800 0147 800 |
| Bliss | Support and information for families of premature and sick babies, including emotional support, neonatal care guidance | |
| Twins Trust | Offers support, information and peer support for families with twins, triplets and multiple births | 0800 138 0509 |
| Sands | Sands works to support anyone affected by the death of a baby | 0808 164 3332 |
| Best Start in Life | Advice and support for your child’s development | |
| Mental Health and Wellbeing | ||
| Mind | Mind empower individuals experiencing mental health problems through advice and support | 0300 102 1234 |
| Maternal Mental Health Alliance | Charity and network of 160 organisations, dedicated to ensuring women and birthing people affected by perinatal mental health problems have access to high-quality, compassionate care | |
| Pandas | Pandas offer hope, empathy and support for every parent, carer or network affected by Perinatal Mental Illness | |
| Samaritans | Provide emotional support to anyone in distress, struggling to cope, or at risk of suicide | 116 123 |
| Domestic Abuse | ||
| Women’s Aid | Offers support, information and signposting for women and children experiencing domestic abuse | |
| Support for single parent families | ||
| Gingerbread | Offers advice and information support for single parents on work, benefits, finances and family issues. | |
| One Parent Families Scotland | Provides advice and support to single parents in Scotland including benefits, money and health and wellbeing. | 0808 801 0323 |
| Disability | ||
| Contact | For families with disabled children | 0808 808 3555 |
| Carer’s support | ||
| Carer’s UK | Provide advice on benefits, rights, and emotional and peer support. | 0808 808 7777 |
| Childcare | ||
| Childcare Service Helpline | Contact HMRC if you need help applying for Tax-Free Childcare, applying for free childcare if you’re working or using your online childcare account. | 0300 123 4097 |
| Best Start | Provide information on all available childcare support | |
| Coram – Family Information Service | Provide a tool to search for contact details for your local Family Information Service who can provide advice and support on childcare in your area |
The information on the law contained on this site is provided free of charge and does not, and is not intended to, amount to legal advice to any person on a specific case or matter. If you are not a solicitor, you are advised to obtain specific legal advice about your case or matter and not to rely solely on this information. Law and guidance is changing regularly in this area.
We cannot provide advice on employment rights in Northern Ireland as the law is different. You can visit the Labour Relations Agency or call their helpline Workplace Information Service on 03300 555 300.