Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Lola McEvoy (Labour) on Friday, 29 August 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 2 September 2025. It was answered by Torsten Bell (Labour) on Friday, 5 September 2025 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Maternity Payments: Teenage Pregnancy

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department plans to take to support local authorities to help tackle the differences in (a) access to the Sure Start Maternity Grant and (b) other financial and practical support between pregnant 16 and 17 year olds who are (i) in care and (ii) not in care.

Answer

The Children Leaving Care Act places a responsibility on local authorities to support children and young people in their care financially until the age of 18. The Act also precludes entitlement to the Department for Work and Pensions benefits for this group unless specific circumstances apply. This support is managed through local authorities rather than central government.

There are exceptional circumstances where 16 and 17-year-olds can claim Universal Credit in their own right. A 16 or 17-year-old may be able to claim Universal Credit if they are pregnant and within 11 weeks of their expected date of confinement.

Eligibility for the Sure Start Maternity Grant is dependent on the claimant receiving a qualifying income-related benefit such as Universal Credit. Eligibility is not age dependent and the grant can be claimed up to 6 months after the baby is born.

A pregnant 16 or 17-year-old may also qualify for either Statutory Maternity Pay or Maternity Allowance if they meet the standard employment and earnings eligibility criteria.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
71538
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Children in care Sure Start programme Young people Teenage pregnancy Maternity payments
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk