£190 Health in Pregnancy Grant.

What is it 

HM revenue link

From April 2009, you may be able to get a one-off, tax-free payment if you're a mum-to-be. The payment is called 'Health in Pregnancy Grant' and you can make a claim for it from 1 January 2009 if your expected delivery date is on or after 6 April 2009. The money is to help you stay well and healthy and to meet extra costs during the later stages of your pregnancy. 

Do you qualify? 

HM revenue and customs link

You can get Health in Pregnancy Grant if you are at least 25 weeks pregnant and usually live in the UK. You may also be able to get the Grant if you are a Crown Servant working for the UK government overseas.

How to claim

HM revenue and customs link

To claim the Grant, you will need to fill in a claim form. You will need to make your claim and get it to the Health in Pregnancy Grant Office within 31 days of your midwife or doctor signing the form otherwise you may lose out on your payment.

Where to get the claim form

Your midwife or doctor will give you a Health in Pregnancy Grant claim form. This will usually be at your next ante-natal appointment after your 25th week of pregnancy. They will need to complete their parts of the form and sign and date their part of the claim form before giving it to you. If your midwife or doctor does not have a claim form please call the Health in Pregnancy Grant Helpline on Tel 0845 366 7885.

You can also get the claim form in large print by calling the Health in Pregnancy Grant Helpline on Tel 0845 366 7885.

When to claim

Once you are 25 weeks pregnant you can make a claim for the Grant. But you need to get your claim form filled in and signed by your midwife or doctor before you have your baby.

You should get your completed claim form to the Health in Pregnancy Grant Office within 31 days of your midwife or doctor signing it. For example, if your midwife signs the form on 6 April, the Health in Pregnancy Grant Office will need to receive it before 7 May.

If the Health in Pregnancy Grant Office receives your completed claim form any later than 31 days after your midwife or doctor has signed it, you may miss out on your payment. It is best to send the form in straightaway to avoid losing out on money. You should do this even if you cannot complete some parts of the form, for example, if you don't have a National Insurance number or you have not got a bank account.

When to expect your payment

If you claim between January and March 2009, the earliest you can get your payment will be April 2009.

If you don't hear anything by early May, you can contact the Health in Pregnancy Grant Helpline. (open between 8.00 am and 8.00 pm seven days a week, except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day) on:

Tel 0845 366 7885, or textphone 0845 366 7885.

If your preferred language is Welsh you can call on Tel 0845 302 1489.

How the Grant will be paid

The Grant will be paid directly into your bank or building society account. The account will need to be either:

• in your name
• both in your own and your partner's names
• in the name of someone acting on your behalf, for example an 'appointee'
• jointly in your own name and in the name of someone acting on your behalf

If you don't have a bank or building society account, any bank or building society will help you open one. More about opening and running a bank account on the Directgov website.

The NCT is not responsible for errors in the above. All details should be checked at the HM Revenue & Customs site.