“Can I afford a baby?”
Food, clothes, nappies, childcare … It can look quite overwhelming, especially if you’re a teen. Isn’t there a cost-of-living crisis? What if you’re in school and don’t have a job? Where will the money come from?
There is so much help available for teenagers in your position, and you can receive money for food, supplies, study, and childcare. This money helps you take care of yourself, raise your child, and pursue a bright future. Who knows where you’ll be ten years from now? Uni student? Graduate? CEO of the next world-changing company?
However, that’s in the future. We understand that right now, you might be experiencing some difficult emotions. You can reach out to us to unload some of your feelings, talking to our listeners confidentially by email, text, or phone.
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Can I claim benefits?
First question. If you’re pregnant but not an adult, can you claim benefits? The answer is yes, though it can be a little complicated.
Universal Credit
Have you heard of Universal Credit?
The government sometimes gives monthly payments to help people afford food, rent, and other essentials. Usually, people can only get it if they’re over 18 and either out of work, unable to work or not earning very much. However, there are exceptions if you’re 16 or 17, such as:
- Being more than 29 weeks pregnant
- Having had a baby recently
- Being responsible for a child
The way you apply is by creating an account, and then using it to ‘make a claim.’ When you make a claim, you give information about yourself to show that you meet the requirements for getting Universal Credit.
Often family members claim on behalf of their child, especially if the child is under 16. If your parents do this for you, you won’t be able to make a claim for yourself.
As we say, it can be pretty complicated. That said, you don’t have to work it out alone. You can talk with Citizens’ Advice experts, either over the phone or by online chat. They’ll tell you all you need to know about benefits and making your first claim.
Child Benefit
When your baby is born, you can also start claiming Child Benefit, and you can keep doing this right up until the child is 16, or 19 if they’re still in approved education! All parents get this if they’re looking after a child, no matter their age, or if they’re in work.
Child Benefit gives you £24 per week for the eldest and only child, and then £15.90 per week for any additional children.* It’s paid every 4 weeks throughout their childhood, giving you that bit of extra help.
Maternity Grants
If you or your family member is claiming benefits, you might also get a maternity grant on top.
This is a free one-off payment if you’re pregnant or have a baby under six months. It’s different to a loan, as you’ll never be asked to pay it back.
It’s called a Sure Start Maternity Grant, which is somewhere in the region of £500*, while in Scotland you can apply for the similar Pregnancy and Baby Payment to start you on your journey.
Not sure what benefits you can apply for? Check out Gingerbread, a website designed specifically for single parents. They have a benefits finder just for under 18s, perfect for pregnant teens and young mums.
What if I got pregnant in school?
“What happens if I’m still in school? Do I have to drop out to stay home with my kid? What about that uni offer I just got? Can I afford a baby and still go?”
A baby does not mean having to give up! Not on school, not on your hobbies, not on your future. You can still go off to uni, ace your college course or graduate school with all your friends.
Legally, schools and colleges have to give you what you need to continue to study, including pregnancy and maternity leave. Could your teachers expel you for being pregnant or a new mum? Nope. It’s illegal to treat you differently just because you’re pregnant.
Money for education
Sometimes schools and colleges give bursaries for students in unique circumstances. A bursary is a special amount of money paid by the school to help you study.
The government has a special 16-19 Bursary, which is up to £1,200 a year* for students between 16 and 19 years old. It’s there for education costs, like travel, books, lunch and equipment. It’s designed to help you go to school, attend college or do training, including unpaid work experience. Talk to your school services or track down your tutor to ask what to do.
You can get something similar in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, called the Education Maintenance Allowance. It’s set amount paid weekly, and you can apply and find out more here (Wales), here (Scotland), and here (Northern Ireland).
Help with childcare costs
“Wait a moment. If I’m studying, who’s going to be looking after my child? How can I afford a baby if I need to pay for childcare?”
Most people don’t have a free babysitter. They pay for childcare – nurseries, childminders, breakfast and holiday clubs. These can be pricey, but there are ways to get around the cost.
For example, say your mum’s claiming your Universal Credit, and she’s working. She can then use the Universal Credit to claim up to 85% of whatever the childcare might cost!*
Then there’s the Care to Learn scheme. If you’re under 20 and studying in England, you can claim this special benefit, which gives you up to £180 or £195 a week* for nursery or a childminder. This can help with fees, transport, taster sessions …
Going to university
There are over two million mums in higher education. If you love studying or have a specific career goal, you can join them, using money given by the government.
Most uni students have loans from Student Finance to cover tuition and living costs, while many universities offer bursaries and extra funding for unique situations.
On top of that, you can apply for a , a free loan paid on top of your Student Finance. Just like Universal Credit, this can pay for up to 85% of nursery or childminder fees!
Similarly, Scotland has a Lone Parents’ Grant for single parents in further or higher education, paid through your college or university. Reach out to them to ask how you can apply.
Finally, as your child gets older, they’ll be entitled to free hours with a registered provider. Usually this is for children aged three and four, but in the meantime, you can make use of these grants and schemes.
Budgeting for a baby
“Food, formula, clothes, nappies, prams … How can I afford a baby with all this extra stuff?”
Step one of budgeting as a teen mum – get your food vouchers.
You can start getting Healthy Start vouchers as soon as you’re 10 weeks pregnant, even if you’re under 18. This is a card pre-loaded with money specifically for buying milk, pulses, fruit, vegetables, and baby formula. The Scottish equivalents are Best Start Food vouchers, which work much the same way.
Step two, avoid shop windows.
Buying new is never cheap, especially from a mum and baby shop. You can get clean, good-quality items second-hand or even for free. Life has a range of free donated items, including clothes, toys, and Moses’ baskets.
Step three, be savvy!
You can drive the costs right down if you know where to look! From baby banks to free nappy schemes, there are heaps of short-cuts for baby budgeting.
Chat with us
Money can be worrying, especially if you’ve never really dealt with it before.
We’re here for all your pregnancy-related questions, including “Can I afford a baby?” You can talk to our gentle, non-judgmental listeners by:
- Calling 0808 802 5433
- Texting 07860 077 33
- Emailing help@lifecharity.org.uk
You can also check out our Surprise Pregnancy blogs. There, we explore questions teens often ask about pregnancy, including How can I tell my parents?
Find out more about Life by visiting our website, or by following us on Facebook or Instagram.
*Accurate in December 2023
