Sure Start is a government programme targeted at parents and children under the age of four living in the most disadvantaged areas. They deliver a wide range of free services which are designed to support healthy pregnancies, children’s learning skills, health and well being as well as social and emotional development. This is a UK wide programme. Currently we have 39 Sure Starts located throughout Northern Ireland, 10 being in Belfast. If you are on a low income and get certain benefits or tax credits, you may be entitled to a Sure Start Maternity Grant of £500. This is a one-off, tax-free payment to help towards the cost of maternity and baby items and you do not have to pay it back.
To qualify for a Sure Start Maternity Grant there must be no other children in your family and you must get one of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- State Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element
- Universal Credit
You may also be eligible if you get Support for Mortgage Interest loan payments.
If you already have children under 16, you may still be able to get a grant if your partner is expecting a multiple birth, such as twins or triplets. Consideration is also given if you are adopting.
How to claim
Print out and fill in claim form SF100 (Sure Start). A health professional (doctor, midwife or health visitor) must sign the health professionals’ statement at the back of your claim form. You can also request a claim form from Lisburn Jobs & Benefits office based at 71 Bow Street, Lisburn, BT28 1BJ or collect one in person from your nearest Social Security / Jobs & Benefits office. You will get a letter telling you if your claim was successful. If you get Universal Credit, you won’t get a decision on your claim until after your next payment.
Important: The date the claim form is received in a Department for Communities office is the date it can consider payment from – not the date you downloaded the claim form.
Useful telephone numbers
Benefits freephone number: 0800 022 4250
Employment Services phone number: 0300 200 7822
Text number: 028 9262 3427 (for deaf and hard of hearing users only)
Fax: 028 9262 3401 (Signing Section) 028 9262 3365 (Vacancy/Admin Section)
Email: lisburn.workingageservices@nissa.gsi.gov.uk
If you are transgender and wish to make a claim or have a query, you can email: knockbreda.makethecall.scr@nissa.gsi.gov.uk
This page lists alphabetically Sure Start Partnerships. (10/10/18)
- Antrim
- Ards
- Armagh
- Ballymena
- Banbridge
- Bangor
- Belfast
- Beechmount Sure Start
- Colin Sure Start
- Clan Mór Sure Start
- East Belfast Sure Start
- Glenbrook Sure Start
- Outer West Belfast Sure Start
- Shankill Sure Start Smile Sure Start
- South Belfast Sure Start
- Saol Úr Sure Start
- Carrickfergus & Larne
- Castlederg
- Clogher Valley
- Coleraine
- Cookstown
- Craigavon
- Dalriada
- Derry/Londonderry
- Edenballymore Sure Start
- Little Hands Sure Start
- Shantallow Sure Start
- Waterside Sure Start
- Downpatrick
- Dungannon
- Dungiven
- Irvinestown
- Kilkeel
- Lisburn
- Newry
- Newtownabbey
- Omagh
- Portadown
- South Armagh
- Strabane
Have you applied for this grant? How did it help? Do you think more schemes like this should be run? Join or start the conversation below.