Freepost DWP SSMG: How To Send Your Sure Start Maternity Grant Application?

Quick Answer: What Is the Freepost DWP SSMG Address?

For Sure Start Maternity Grant claims made in England and Wales, send the completed SF100 form and the required pregnancy or childbirth evidence to:

Freepost DWP SSMG: Write only that line on the envelope. You do not need to add a street address, postcode or stamp.

The application should normally include the completed SF100 form and an original MAT B1 form or another written statement from a doctor or midwife confirming the pregnancy or childbirth.

If the claim deadline is approaching, the form can be submitted without the evidence and DWP will contact the applicant about providing it later.

Northern Ireland uses a different form and postal address, while people living in Scotland apply for a different payment.

Last Updated: 29 July 2026

The Sure Start Maternity Grant is a one-off payment of £500 that helps eligible households with the cost of having or becoming responsible for a child. It does not have to be repaid and does not reduce other benefits.

Applicants can claim from 11 weeks before the week in which the baby is due until six months after the birth. Someone adopting or otherwise becoming responsible for a child normally has six months from the date that responsibility begins.

Who Can Use the Freepost DWP SSMG Address?

The Freepost DWP SSMG address is the official postal destination for Sure Start Maternity Grant claims made through DWP in England and Wales.

Applicants can obtain the latest official SF100 claim form from GOV.UK. The form can be completed on a computer and printed or printed first and completed by hand.

People living in Northern Ireland should not send their application to the England and Wales Freepost address. They must use the Northern Ireland SF100 form and postal address published by nidirect.

People living in Scotland cannot claim the Sure Start Maternity Grant. Scotland provides the Pregnancy and Baby Payment through Social Security Scotland instead.

Who Is Eligible for the Sure Start Maternity Grant?

An applicant will usually need to be expecting their first child and either they or their partner must receive a qualifying benefit.

The live GOV.UK eligibility guidance currently names:

Universal Credit
Pension Credit
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
A possible qualifying Support for Mortgage Interest loan

The current SF100 also asks applicants to declare other benefits and payments, including Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Child Tax Credit and qualifying Working Tax Credit.

Applicants should disclose every benefit or payment they or their partner receive rather than trying to decide eligibility solely from an informal online list.

A person who has recently applied for Universal Credit may have to wait longer for the maternity-grant decision while DWP confirms the Universal Credit award.

The rules governing whether Universal Credit can be backdated are separate from the Sure Start claim deadline, so the SF100 should still be submitted within its permitted claim window.

Can You Claim If You Already Have Children?

Having another child under 16 normally prevents a claim for a single new baby, but important exceptions apply.

A grant may still be available when:

The applicant is expecting twins, triplets or another multiple birth.
A child living in the household is someone else’s child rather than the applicant’s or their partner’s child, subject to the qualifying conditions.
The applicant has refugee status or humanitarian protection or meets the relevant Afghanistan or Ukraine provisions.
The claim is being made for a young family member who lives with the applicant.
The applicant is adopting, becoming a guardian or becoming a parent through an eligible surrogacy arrangement.

The amount available for a multiple birth depends on the number of children already in the household and whether any existing children were also born as part of a multiple birth.

How Should You Complete the SF100 Form?

Complete every question that applies and use the most recent form published by DWP. When filling it in by hand, use black ink and capital letters. Sign and date the declaration in black ink before sending it.

The form asks for information including:

The applicant’s name, address, date of birth and National Insurance number
Partner details, where applicable
Benefits and payments received by either person
The baby’s expected due date or date of birth
Details of other children in the household
Bank, building society or eligible credit union account details
Information about adoption, guardianship or surrogacy where relevant

Pregnancy or childbirth must normally be supported by an original MAT B1 or another written statement from a doctor or midwife.

The written evidence should contain the details requested by DWP, including the claimant’s identifying information, the expected week of confinement or birth date, and the health professional’s details and signature.

DWP’s current form says original pregnancy evidence should be submitted because photocopies are not accepted. Keep a photograph or copy for personal records before placing the original evidence in the envelope.

Where Do You Send the SF100 Form?

Place the completed SF100 form and supporting evidence in an envelope and write:

Freepost DWP SSMG

Do not add another address line, town or postcode. A stamp is not required.

Applicants can put the envelope in a Royal Mail postbox. Anyone who wants evidence that the envelope was posted can take it to a Post Office and request proof of posting.

Before sending it:

Confirm that the form is signed and dated.
Confirm that the National Insurance number is correct.
Review the bank or building society details.
Include the original MAT B1 or acceptable written evidence unless the form is being sent without evidence to meet the deadline.
Keep a copy or clear photograph of everything submitted.

What Happens After DWP Receives the SF100 Form?

DWP reviews the form, the applicant’s benefit position and the evidence of pregnancy or childbirth. Applicants should receive a letter stating whether the claim has been successful within 28 days of DWP receiving the form and evidence.

A decision can take longer when the applicant has recently made a new Universal Credit claim because DWP may need to wait until that claim has been processed.

If the grant is awarded, it is normally paid into the bank, building society or eligible credit union account stated on the form.

DWP will confirm the decision and payment information rather than requiring the applicant to rely solely on noticing an unexpected bank payment.

Can You Track a Sure Start Maternity Grant Claim?

There is no public online DWP tracker for an SF100 claim.

Applicants who have not received a decision after the expected 28-day period can contact the Sure Start Maternity Grant helpline:

Telephone: 0800 169 0140
Relay UK: 18001, followed by 0800 169 0140
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 10 am to 3 pm
Welsh-language line: 0800 169 0240

Have the National Insurance number, posting date and a copy of the form available when calling.

A proof-of-posting receipt confirms that an envelope was handed to Royal Mail, but it does not confirm that DWP has approved or processed the claim.

What Should You Do If the Claim Is Refused?

DWP will send a decision letter explaining the outcome. If the applicant believes the decision is wrong, they can ask DWP to reconsider it through mandatory reconsideration.

A mandatory reconsideration can normally be requested:

By telephone
By letter
By completing the relevant mandatory-reconsideration form

The request should usually be made within one month of the date on the decision letter. It should identify the part of the decision considered incorrect, explain why it is wrong and include any relevant evidence that DWP has not already considered.

DWP will issue a mandatory reconsideration notice after reviewing the decision. If the applicant still disagrees, they may then be able to appeal to an independent tribunal.

What Other Financial Support May Be Available?

The Sure Start Maternity Grant is only one part of the financial support that may be available during pregnancy and after a child is born.

Low-income households may qualify for Healthy Start or other food voucher support for eligible food, milk and vitamins. Eligibility and application rules are separate from those for the maternity grant.

A parent raising a child alone may also need to consider their wider single-parent benefit entitlement, including Universal Credit, housing support and childcare assistance.

Child Benefit is a separate payment and is not automatically started by a Sure Start Maternity Grant application. There is no general maximum on how many children can receive Child Benefit, although the amount and tax position can depend on household circumstances.

Child maintenance is also treated separately from the maternity grant. Parents receiving payments from another parent can consider how child maintenance affects Universal Credit when reviewing their household income.

Maternity Allowance may support someone who does not qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay, but receiving Maternity Allowance alone does not automatically establish eligibility for a Sure Start Maternity Grant.

Conclusion

For an England or Wales claim, send the completed SF100 and the required original pregnancy or childbirth evidence to Freepost DWP SSMG. Do not add a postcode and do not attach a stamp.

Use the current form, submit it within the permitted claim window, retain copies of everything sent and expect a written decision within 28 days after DWP receives the completed form and evidence. Northern Ireland and Scotland use different application routes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Freepost DWP SSMG the complete address?

Yes. For an England or Wales SF100 claim, write Freepost DWP SSMG as the complete address. No postcode, street name or stamp is required.

Can I send the SF100 without a MAT B1?

Yes, when sending the form without evidence is necessary to meet the deadline. DWP will contact the applicant about arranging the evidence later.

Will DWP return my original MAT B1?

The current SF100 asks applicants to send original pregnancy or childbirth evidence because photocopies are not accepted. Keep a photograph or copy before posting and contact the helpline if the original document is needed urgently.

How long does a Sure Start Maternity Grant decision take?

DWP says a decision letter should normally arrive within 28 days of receiving the form and evidence. A recently submitted Universal Credit claim can make the process longer.

Do I need to pay for recorded delivery?

The official application method is the free one-line address. Applicants who want evidence of dispatch can present the envelope at a Post Office and ask for proof of posting.

Can someone in Northern Ireland use Freepost DWP SSMG?

No. Northern Ireland has its own SF100 version and Department for Communities postal address.

Can someone in Scotland claim the £500 grant?

No. People living in Scotland apply for the Pregnancy and Baby Payment through Social Security Scotland instead.

Editorial Note: This article has been reviewed and updated using current official guidance from the UK Government, the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland and Social Security Scotland.

Eligibility rules, application deadlines, postal instructions and claim-processing information may change, so applicants should confirm their circumstances through the relevant official service.