Your rights and benefits if your baby died shortly after birth

If your baby dies within the first 28 days of being born, or if your baby lives – even for a short time (including before the 24th week of pregnancy) – but passes away, you’re entitled to financial help.

There are certain people you’ll need to notify. The best way to do this is usually to phone or, where possible, email.

If you don’t feel able to phone, you might be able to get a relative or close friend to make some of the calls for you.

If you’re employed in England, Scotland or Wales, you have 56 weeks to take Parental Bereavement Leave or claim Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay through your employer. This starts from the date of the child’s death.

You can take this on top of any maternity or paternity leave you’re also entitled to.

You can take two weeks’ Statutory Parental Bereavement leave in one block or as two separate blocks of one week.

The 56 weeks are split into two periods:

• from the date of the child’s death or stillbirth to eight weeks after
• nine to 56 weeks after the date of the child’s death or stillbirth.

You must give your employer notice before you take Parental Bereavement Leave.

If you’re an employee or a worker, you may also be entitled to two weeks’ Statutory Bereavement Pay.

You’ll need to have been earning at least £123 a week in the 2024/25 tax year.  

Statutory Bereavement Pay is either £184.03 (2024/25) a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is lower.

Your employer might pay more than this through Enhanced Bereavement Pay. Check your staff handbook or contract for details.

Find out more about how to claim Statutory Parental Bereavement PayOpens in a new window on GOV.UK

For more information about your rights, see the Acas guide to Parental Bereavement Leave and PayOpens in a new window

You’re entitled to a total of 52 weeks leave.

You can’t get this if you have a child through surrogacy, but you might be able to take unpaid parental leave.

You might qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay while you’re off work for a maximum of 39 weeks – providing you’ve been working for long enough.

You must make your claim within 28 days of your baby’s death.

Talk to your employer about what they can offer you or check your employment contract.

A lot of employers offer compassionate leave to bereaved parents as part of their basic contract of employment or employee benefits.

If you aren’t on maternity or paternity leave and are unable to return to work for medical reasons, Statutory Sick Pay is paid for up to 28 weeks. This could be more if your contract of employment allows it.

It’s important to report any changes in circumstances to your Universal Credit work coach. If you feel your ability to work or look for work is affected while recovering, they might ask for a note from your GP or healthcare specialist.

If you’re self-employed or haven’t been with your employer for long enough to qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay, you might qualify for Maternity Allowance.

This is paid by the government rather than your employer.

If you can’t get Maternity Allowance, you might be able to get Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

To claim Maternity Allowance, Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance, contact your nearest Jobcentre Plus:

• If you live in England, find out more, and find your nearest Jobcentre PlusOpens in a new window, on GOV.UK.
• If you live in Northern Ireland, find your nearest Jobs and Benefits OfficeOpens in a new window on nidirect.

You'll get full Child Benefit for the period from the birth until eight weeks after your baby died.

If you’ve already made a claim for Child Benefit, you’ll need to tell the Child Benefit Office that your baby has died.

Call the Child Benefit Office on 0300 200 3100 or go to GOV.UK

If you haven’t made a claim yet, you need to within three months of the birth of your baby to get the full amount.

You might also be able to claim tax credits until eight weeks after your baby died.

If you haven’t made a claim, you should do it within one month.

If you’re already receiving tax credits for your baby, you need to tell the Tax Credits Office within one month of your loss.

If you’re on a low income and receiving a qualifying benefit, your right to claim a Sure Start Maternity Grant isn’t affected.

Qualifying benefits include:

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Employment and Support Allowance
• Universal Credit.

You must claim the grant within 11 weeks of the baby’s due date or within three months after the baby’s birth.

To claim the Sure Start Maternity Grant:

• you can contact your nearest Jobcentre Plus (or Jobs & Benefits Office if you live in Northern Ireland), or
• download a claim form for a Sure Start Maternity GrantOpens in a new window on GOV.UK.

If you live in England, find out more and find your nearest Jobcentre PlusOpens in a new window on GOV.UK.

If you live in Scotland, find out more about the Best Start Grant, and income limitsOpens in a new window on MYGOV.SCOT.

If you live in Northern Ireland, find your nearest Jobs & Benefits OfficeOpens in a new window on nidirect.

You’re entitled to free prescriptions for at least 12 months In England.

In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, prescriptions are free for everyone.

You’re also entitled to free NHS dental treatment until the certificate expires.

Ask your doctor or midwife for form FW8, which you fill in and they sign and send off for you.

You’ll get your exemption certificate in the post.

Your doctor or midwife can also help you with the Healthy Start programme if you’ve been claiming vouchers. You won’t get any more vouchers but you can use any you’ve already received.

If you live in Scotland, find out more about the Best Start Foods and income limitsOpens in a new window on MYGOV.SCOT.

You need to register your baby’s death within five days in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (eight days in Scotland).

You can do this by taking the death certificate to the Register of Births and Deaths.

You can register the birth at the same time if you haven’t already. The registrar will give you a form for the funeral director.

In most places, you’ll need to go to your local register office in England and Wales, or your local register office in Scotland.

You might be able to do this at the hospital. The hospital staff will tell you what you need to do and where to go.

A baby who dies shortly after birth must by law be formally buried or cremated, although a funeral isn’t legally required.

If you live in England, Wales or Scotland, your local council won’t charge you fees for a standard burial or cremation of a child.

Other fees, such as a funeral director, flowers, coffin and memorial, will still need to be paid.

In England, the Children’s Funeral Fund can contributeOpens in a new window up to £300 towards any reasonable funeral costs such as the burial fees, cremation fees and a coffin, shroud or casket. 

In Wales, there’s a £500 contributionOpens in a new window towards the funeral and other related costs such as floral tributes, plaques.

If you live in England or Wales and you are getting certain benefits, you can also apply for up to £1,000 Funeral Expenses PaymentOpens in a new window to help cover some of the other reasonable costs.

In Scotland, the average payment is £1,800 for contributionOpens in a new window towards any reasonable funeral costs you need to pay for such as the funeral service or funeral car. 

In Northern Ireland, you can get up to £1,000 for reasonable funeral expensesOpens in a new window for fees or items such as funeral director’s fees, flowers, coffin.

If you’re not using a funeral director, you can claim for some funeral expenses.

It’s easy to be overwhelmed by some of the things you need to do and the decisions you need to make. 

While family and friends can be a great comfort, it’s also sometimes good to get some clear, impartial guidance.

Find out more about Sands, a stillbirth and neonatal death charityOpens in a new window offering practical and emotional support.

Miscarriage Association offers support and informationOpens in a new window to anyone affected by the loss of a baby in pregnancy.

Our free printed guides give you clear, unbiased information. They're a good starting point and can help you make informed choices.