Information for bereaved parents

We know that in addition to the shock and sadness you are going through, you may also be facing financial difficulties because of extra costs.

Although claiming financial benefits is likely to be the last thing on your mind, you may find this information helpful as it shows what you may be entitled to.

If your baby was born dead between 14 and 24 completed weeks of pregnancy, this is called a late miscarriage.

If your baby was born dead after 24 completed weeks of pregnancy, this is called a stillbirth.

If your baby was born alive at any stage of the pregnancy but died within four weeks, this is called a neonatal death.

There is also a pdf leaflet available.

After a late miscarriage (between 14 and 24 completed weeks)

Financial help
Can I get it?
More information
Health in Pregnancy Grant1 No Your midwife/doctor or HiPG helpline
Sure Start Maternity Grant2 No Jobcentre Plus/
Jobs and Benefits Office
Free prescriptions and dental treatment3 No. If you have a Maternity Exemption Certificate you should return it Your midwife/doctor
Healthy Start free vitamins and vouchers for milk, fruit and veg No. If you are already receiving these vouchers you should notify them of your change in circumstances, although you can still use any vouchers you have Your midwife/doctor or Healthy Start helpline
Statutory Maternity Pay No, but you may be able to get Statutory Sick Pay Your employer
Maternity Allowance No, but you may be able to get Statutory Sick Pay from your employer or Employment and Support Allowance from Jobcentre Plus Jobcentre Plus/
Jobs and Benefits Office or your employer
Statutory Paternity Pay No, but you may be able to take (paid or unpaid) compassionate leave Your employer
Child Benefit No HMRC
Child Trust Fund4 No Child Trust Fund
Child Tax Credit No HMRC


After a stillbirth or termination for foetal abnormality (24 completed weeks and over)

Financial help
Can I get it?
More information
Health in Pregnancy Grant1 No, but if you’ve received it, you won’t have to pay it back Your midwife/doctor or HiPG helpline
Sure Start Maternity Grant2 Yes, if you are on a low income and receiving income-rated Employment and Support Allowance or another qualifying benefit. You must claim within 3 months of your baby’s birth Jobcentre Plus/
Jobs and Benefits Office
Free prescriptions and dental treatment3 Yes. If you have a valid Maternity Exemption Certificate, you can use it until the expiry date Complete the form at the pharmacy or dentist
Healthy Start free vitamins and vouchers for milk, fruit and veg No. If you are already receiving these vouchers you should notify them of your change in circumstances, although you can still use any vouchers you have Your midwife/doctor or Healthy Start helpline
Statutory Maternity Pay Probably, if you are employed. You must claim within 28 days of the baby’s birth Your employer
Maternity Allowance Probably, if you’re not eligible for Statutory Maternity Pay. If you can’t get Maternity Allowance, you may be able to get Employment and Support Allowance instead Jobcentre Plus/
Jobs and Benefits Office or your employer
Statutory Paternity Pay Probably, if you are employed. You must claim within 28 days of the baby’s birth Your employer
Child Benefit No HMRC
Child Trust Fund4 No Child Trust Fund
Child Tax Credit No HMRC


After a neonatal death (up to 4 weeks after birth)

Financial help
Can I get it?
More information
Sure Start Maternity Grant2 Yes, if you are on a low income and receiving income-rated Employment and Support Allowance or another qualifying benefit. You must claim within 3 months of your baby’s birth Jobcentre Plus/
Jobs and Benefits Office
Free prescriptions and dental treatment3 Yes. If you have a valid Maternity Exemption Certificate, you can use it until the expiry date Complete the form at the pharmacy or dentist
Healthy Start free vitamins and vouchers for milk, fruit and veg No. If you are already receiving these vouchers you should notify them of your change in circumstances, although you can still use any vouchers you have Your midwife/doctor or Healthy Start helpline
Statutory Maternity Pay Probably, if you are employed. You must claim within 28 days of the baby’s birth Your employer
Maternity Allowance Probably, if you’re not eligible for Statutory Maternity Pay. If you can’t get Maternity Allowance, you may be able to get Employment and Support Allowance instead Jobcentre Plus/
Jobs and Benefits Office or your employer
Statutory Paternity Pay Probably, if you are employed. You must claim within 28 days of the baby’s birth Your employer
Child Benefit Yes, from birth until eight weeks after your baby’s death. You can claim up to three months after that date. In the claim form, write the date of the death in Part 6. Send your baby’s birth certificate with the form, but not the death certificate HMRC
Child Trust Fund4 If you have received Child Benefit you will automatically get a Child Trust Fund voucher. You will be sent a letter asking about the kind of account you want the money paid into. This should arrive about a month after your first Child Benefit payment. If it doesn’t, contact the Child Trust Fund Child Trust Fund
Child Tax Credit You may be able to claim Child Tax Credit from the birth until eight weeks after your baby’s death. You must inform HMRC within one month of the baby’s death HMRC

1The Health in Pregnancy Grant will stop in January 2011.

2From April 2011 the Sure Start Maternity Grant will be for the first child only.

3All prescriptions are free for everyone in Wales and Northern Ireland, and should be free in Scotland from April 2011. Entitlements to free dental check-ups and treatment vary by country.

4From August 2010 the contribution at birth will be cut to £50 (or £100 for a child in a low-income family). From January 2011 no new Child Trust Fund vouchers will be issued.


Registration (birth and death certificates)

Late miscarriage
The Registrar does not provide death certificates for babies miscarried before 24 weeks of pregnancy, but many hospitals issue a special certificate. This gives your baby’s name, if you have given one, the date of the loss and maybe some other details. If your hospital does not provide certificates, you could provide one and ask them to sign it. See the Sands website for a sample certificate (see Useful contacts).

Stillbirth
A stillbirth in England and Wales must normally be registered within 42 days but cannot be registered after more than 3 months. In Scotland a stillbirth must be registered within 21 days, and in Northern Ireland within 3 months. In some places registration can be done at the hospital. Otherwise it is done at the local register office.

Neonatal death
You need to register your baby’s death within 5 working days (8 working days in Scotland). You can register the birth at the same time if you have not already done so.


Funeral requirements

Late miscarriage
If you miscarry or terminate your pregnancy before 24 weeks, there is no legal requirement to formally bury or cremate the body. The hospital staff will explain to you what the hospital offers and should also give you written information. They will give you time to consider what you would like to do.

You can make your own arrangements for a funeral and/or burial or cremation if you prefer. You may wish to consult a funeral director or a minister of your own faith if you have one. The hospital chaplaincy team may also be a good source of information, advice and support, whether or not you have any religious beliefs.

You have the right to bury your baby's body or remains yourself. If you want to do this, you may need to make your wishes very clear to the hospital staff or your GP as they may not be aware that this is legal. However there are some important practical things you will need to think about first. For more information about these, contact the Miscarriage Association or Sands (see Useful contacts).

Stillbirth or neonatal death
Babies who are stillborn, or who are born alive and then die, must by law be buried or cremated. Most hospitals will offer to arrange a funeral for you in which you can participate, or you can make your own funeral arrangements.

Funeral payments
Most funeral directors offer a simple funeral service for babies or children free of charge, although there may be some costs for additional items or services. If you're on a low income and need help to pay for a funeral, you may be able to get a Funeral Payment from the Social Fund. For more information see www.direct.gov.uk/FuneralPayments or contact your local Jobcentre Plus or Jobs and Benefits Office (see Useful contacts).


Useful contacts

Call rates may vary – check with your telephone provider for their charges.

*This information is correct for the tax year 6 April 2010 to 5 April 2011.

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