Other financial support available for bringing up children

Use this page to help you discover other financial support available for bringing up children.

Child Benefit

You can claim Child Benefit if you’re responsible for bringing up a child who is under 16 or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training.

Only one adult carer can get Child Benefit for a child. It’s paid every 4 weeks and there’s no limit to how many children you can claim for.

Claim Child benefit

Universal Credit Childcare Support

You may be able to claim back up to 85% of your childcare costs if you’re eligible for Universal Credit, with up to £951 back each month for one child or £1,630 for 2 or more children.

Claim back Childcare costs

Apply for free school meals

Free school meals are available to pupils in England during term time if parents get certain benefits.

Apply for free school meals

Holiday activities and food (HAF) programme

You can get access to free activities and food for your children in the holidays if they receive free school meals.

The programme runs through the Easter, Summer and Christmas school holidays each year.

Claim Healthy Start vouchers

If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be able to get help to buy healthy food and milk.

Check if you’re eligible for Healthy Start vouchers

Get help with maternity costs

You could claim a one-off payment of £500 to help towards the costs of having a child.

Check if you’re eligible for the Sure Start Maternity Grant

Help with the cost of living 

The government and the council are offering help for households. Check what cost of living support you could be eligible for.

Support available to Lambeth residents can be found at the Cost of living webpage.