Maternity Exemption:

NHS prescriptions and NHS dental care (check-ups and treatment) are free to women while they are pregnant and for 12 months after giving birth. 

Your child can also have free prescriptions and NHS dental care until they are at least 16 years old. 

Note: you will need to be registered with a dentist who provides NHS treatment and who accepts you/your children as an NHS patient. You cannot get free dental care if you are registered as a private patient or your dentist does not provide NHS treatment. 

How do I claim free NHS prescriptions and NHS dental care? 

To claim free NHS prescriptions and NHS dental care whilst you are pregnant, ask your doctor or midwife for form FW8. Send the completed form to your local health authority (Health Board in Scotland). Your midwife or GP can also apply online https://services.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/apply-for-maternity-exemption/start 

You will be sent an exemption certificate which lasts until a year after your due date. Show this to the chemist/dentist when you are collecting your prescriptions/having dental treatment. 

If you have to pay for prescriptions while you are waiting for your exemption certificate to arrive, ask for a receipt (FP57) and refund claim form when you pay and you can apply for a refund. 

If you didn’t claim free prescriptions whilst you were pregnant, you can claim after your baby is born by filling in form A in leaflet P11 NHS prescriptions; your baby’s birth certificate may also be accepted as proof of entitlement. 

To claim for a child, tick the appropriate box on the back of the prescription/dentist’s form. 

You can find out more and download forms from www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/exemption-certificates/maternity-exemption-certificates  

Sure Start Maternity Grant:

You can download and print a Sure Start Maternity Grant claim form (SF100) from www.gov.uk/sure-start-maternity-grant/how-to-claim or call the Jobcentre Plus claim line on 0800 055 6688 to ask for a claim pack to be sent to you. 

Your midwife/health professional must sign the form to say that they have given health and welfare advice. 

If you need help with your claim, telephone the Sure Start Maternity Grant helpline on 0800 169 0140. 

There is a strict time limit for claiming the maternity grant. You must apply: 

• 11 weeks before your expected week of childbirth or within 6 months of the birth (including a stillbirth). 
• Within 6 months of the adoption of a child less than 12 months. 
• Within 6 months of the grant of a parental order for a surrogate birth providing the baby is less than 12 months. 

Help with fares to hospital:

Your fares to hospital – including to antenatal appointments – can be refunded if you or your family get Universal Credit, Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit with a disability element, Income Support, income-related Employment Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, (not contributory benefits) and your household income is below a specified amount. 

Fares for the cheapest mode of transport will be refunded, this will usually be public transport or petrol costs, but you may be able to claim taxi fares back if there is no alternative way for you to get to your appointment. 

How do I claim? 

To claim your refund, you should take your travel tickets/receipt for costs incurred to the hospital administration desk with proof of your benefit/tax credit entitlement. 

If you have already paid fares to hospital for previous appointments, you can claim a refund within three months of paying the fares by filling in form HC5.

Information and resources: 

For more information and to download form HC5 see: The NHS Help with Health Costs or ask your hospital for a copy of this form. This applies across the UK. 

For more information on Money for Parents and Babies visit: Maternity Action - Money for parents and babies.

Fore more information on Maternity Pay visit: Maternity Action - Maternity pay questions. 

To access the information in different languages visit: Maternity Action - Maternity rights information translated.