Single Parent FAQs: Having a baby – Issue 33

Depending on your income you may be able to claim Best Start Pregnancy and Baby Payment – to help with the costs of pregnancy and having a new baby. You will receive £754.65 from your 25th week of pregnancy to 6 months after the birth of your first child.

More info and to apply here Best start grant and best start foods

There is also a baby box supplied with baby items and the box is safe for your new-born baby to sleep in. Your midwife will be able to help you register for the box between 20-24 weeks pregnant.

If you are married to the father, then you can put his name on the birth certificate without him being there. If you are not married to the father, he can go with you to register the birth, and his name can be added to the birth certificate giving him parental rights and responsibilities.

However, if only one of the parents goes to the registrar’s office, they must have a document called a declaration, signed by the other parent, to prove that each agrees to the father’s name being added. There are special forms available at the registrar’s office to make the declaration.

You will still be able to claim Scottish Child Payment and Child Benefit, you can get in touch with us, and we can do a benefit check Talk to us

The earliest you can start maternity leave, and pay is 11 weeks before your baby is due, however, you may prefer to work for longer and have more leave left to take after your baby is born. The latest you can start maternity leave, and pay is the day your baby is born. Statutory Maternity Pay and Maternity Allowance are only paid for 39 weeks therefore, if you take 52 weeks Statutory Maternity Leave, the last 13 weeks are unpaid.

There are two options for housing, a social landlord or a private landlord and you can get help towards your rent included in your Universal Credit.

More info on housing options and paying housing costs can be found here Your housing options

Speak to your midwife or health visitor and see what activities there are in your local area, things like baby massage or parent and baby groups. You can get in touch with us  on our channels talk to us  We also have a community forum. Our forum is a place for parents to talk to other parents about whatever topics, issues and comments they may have that affect the lives of single parent families’ daily. Join our forum.

Home Start Scotland is another great organisation that may be able to offer support.

Child maintenance covers how your child’s living costs will be paid when one of the parents does not live with the child. It’s made when you’ve separated from the other parent or if you’ve never been in a relationship. If you are unable to make a family-based arrangement for child maintenance then you could get in touch with Child Maintenance Service, this service will work out how much child maintenance has to be paid based on the paying parents’ income.

Apply to the Child Maintenance Service.