Single Parent Benefits – A Financial Guide for Solo Mums

Financial support for single parents in the UK includes:

• Universal Credit
• Child Benefit
• Council tax reduction
• Financial support for childcare costs
• Housing or rent support
• Free school meals
• Healthy Start
• Statutory Maternity Pay
• Maternity Allowance
• Sure Start Maternity Grant
• Local council grants

The UK government lists the full range of benefits and financial support available to those having children. However, the list is not tailored to single parents.  

Universal Credit

Universal Credit provides a standard allowance of £338.58 a month if you are under 25 and £424.90 a month if you are over 25. You can also receive an additional £303.94 for each child that lives with you (a higher amount of £351.88 may apply to a first child born before 6 April 2017). You are eligible for Universal Credit if you are on a low income or need help with living costs and you:

• Are 18 or older
• Live in the UK
• Have less than £16,000 in savings

Visit the UK Gov Universal Credit page.

Child Benefit

Single parents can also apply for Child Benefit and receive £27.05 a week for the eldest or only child and £17.90 a week for any additional children. However, Child Benefit is dependent on your income. You typically qualify for Child Benefit if you:

• Are responsible for a child under 16
• Live in the UK
• Earn under the annual income threshold

Child Benefit depends on your income. If your adjusted net income is over the threshold, you may have to pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge. The income threshold is:

• £60,000 for the tax year 2024 to 2025
• £50,000 for tax years up to and including the tax year 2023 to 2024

Visit the UK Gov Child Benefit page.

Council tax reduction

Council tax reductions vary between councils, though many offer discounts to residents with children if certain eligibility criteria are met. You can find what reductions are available from your council using the UK Gov Postcode Finder tool.

Childcare costs

Single parents can get support with childcare costs through the UK government’s Tax-Free Childcare and Free Childcare for Working Parents schemes. The childcare provider must be registered with and approved by the UK government. You can search a database of approved providers on the UK Gov Approved Childcare page. Low-income families may also be eligible for free childcare for two-year-olds and 15 hours free childcare for three- to four-year-olds.

Housing or rent support

Housing benefits are now typically delivered via Universal Credit. However, you may still be able to make a new claim for Housing Benefit if you are in supported, sheltered or temporary housing.

Free school meals

Free school meal eligibility is decided on a council-by-council basis. You can check whether your child is eligible via this UK Gov site. You may be eligible if you receive any of the following:

• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit run-on
• Universal Credit

The UK government has rolled out a universal free school meals programme for all children in Reception, Year One and Year Two. Some regions have expanded this to include all primary school children. For instance, Wales currently offers universal free school meals for children in primary schools. You may need to register your child to access the programme. 

Statutory Maternity Pay

If you were employed before your pregnancy and earn at least £129 weekly, you qualify for 39 weeks of Statutory Maternity Pay. In the first 6 weeks, you’ll get 90% of your average weekly earnings. For the remaining 33 weeks, you will receive 90% of your average weekly earnings or £194.32 a week (whichever is lower).

Your employer may also offer additional support based on your employment contract. If you are entitled to this, it is a good idea to check for any conditions, like mandatory repayment if you don’t return to your workplace after your maternity leave.

Maternity Allowance

If you don’t qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay, you might be able to get Maternity Allowance. This is available if you have been:

• Registered as self-employed for at least 26 weeks in the 66 weeks prior to your baby’s due date.
• Employed for at least 26 weeks in the 66 weeks prior to your baby’s due date.

With Maternity Allowance, you can get up to £194.32 a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings for up to 39 weeks. You can use the maternity pay calculator to check what you could get in your situation.

Sure Start Maternity Grant

Sure Start Maternity Grant is a one-off payment of £500 to help cover the costs of having a baby. You can apply for the grant if you have no other children under 16 and you receive income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit or Universal Credit.

Choosing to become a solo mum means taking on significant financial, emotional and logistical responsibilities.

Solo mums by choice face additional costs even before pregnancy begins, such as expenses for fertility treatment and donor sperm. On top of that, maternity leave planning becomes more complex when you’re the sole income earner. Fortunately, there are some financial support mechanisms designed specifically for solo mothers and single parents. 

Grants for single mothers

If you are on a low income, you can apply for a grant from a charity. Grants can be used for different things, such as everyday living costs or a school uniform. There are no general eligibility rules as eligibility depends on personal circumstances, such as where you live. Each charity also has its own rules and thresholds for its grants. 

The single-parent charity Gingerbread provides guidance on finding and applying for grants, and can be an invaluable resource.