One Family Payment is a specific benefit amount, not a flat fee you pay

One Family Payment is a lump-sum benefit paid by the UK government to may be able to access families when a child is born or adopted. It is not a cost you pay — it is money you receive. The current amount is £500 per child, paid as a single payment rather than spread across months.

The payment goes to the person who is responsible for the child — usually the mother, but can be the father or another guardian if they are the main carer. You do not pay anything to receive it. The only cost is the time spent gathering documents and submitting the claim through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

One Family Payment is separate from Child Benefit, which is a recurring monthly payment. One Family Payment happens once per child, while Child Benefit continues until the child turns 16 (or 20 if they stay in full-time education).

Key Takeaways

  • One Family Payment is £500 per child, paid once as a lump sum by the UK government, not a cost you pay.
  • The payment must be claimed within three months of the child's birth or adoption, or you lose the right to it.
  • You claim through the Department for Work and Pensions using form SF100, along with proof of the child's birth or adoption and your bank details.
  • The payment arrives in your bank account within two to four weeks of approval, though processing can take longer if documents are missing or unclear.

Who receives the £500 and when it arrives

The person named as the main carer on the child's birth certificate or adoption papers receives the payment. If both parents are named and you are unsure who should claim, the DWP will ask for clarification — only one person can receive it per child.

The payment is made directly into your bank account. You must provide your sort code and account number when you claim. Processing normally takes two to four weeks from the date the DWP receives your complete application, though delays happen if documents are missing, illegible, or if the DWP needs to verify information with the hospital or adoption agency.

If you claim after three months from the child's birth or adoption date, you cannot receive One Family Payment. There is no exception for late claims, so the deadline is firm.

How to claim and what documents you need

You claim by completing form SF100, available from the DWP website or by phone. You can submit it by post or online through the DWP portal. Alongside the form, you need:

  • The child's full birth certificate (or adoption certificate if applicable)
  • Proof of your identity — passport, driving licence, or national insurance number
  • Your bank account details (sort code and account number)
  • Proof of your address if it differs from the one on your identity document

If you are claiming for an adopted child, you also need the adoption order or certificate from the court. If the child was born abroad, you need a certified translation of the birth certificate into English.

Submit everything together. Incomplete applications are returned, which delays payment by weeks. Keep copies of what you send.

What happens if your claim is delayed or refused

If the DWP refuses your claim, they send a written decision explaining why. Common reasons include claiming after the three-month deadline, missing documents, or the child not meeting residency requirements (the child must normally be born in the UK or you must be a UK resident).

You can ask the DWP to reconsider if you believe the decision is wrong. This is called a mandatory reconsideration request and must be made within one month of the refusal letter. Send it in writing with any new evidence — for example, if documents were lost in the post, you can resubmit them.

If the DWP still refuses after reconsideration, you can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber). This is a free process, but you must request it within one month of the reconsideration decision.

One Family Payment and other benefits or tax credits

Receiving One Family Payment does not affect your may be able to access for Child Benefit, Child Tax Credit, or Universal Credit. It is treated as a one-off payment, not income, so it does not reduce the amount of other benefits you receive in that month or future months.

However, if you are claiming means-tested benefits like Universal Credit or Housing Benefit, the £500 may be counted as capital in your bank account. This can affect your benefit amount if your total savings exceed the threshold (usually £6,000 for Universal Credit). Spend or move the money quickly if this is a concern, or contact your benefit office to ask how they will treat it.

One Family Payment is not taxable income, so you do not report it to HMRC or include it on a tax return.

If you did not claim within the deadline

If three months have passed since the child's birth or adoption, you cannot claim One Family Payment. The DWP has no discretion to extend the deadline, even in cases of hardship, illness, or administrative error on your part.

The only exception is if the DWP's own error caused the delay — for example, if they lost your application or gave you wrong information about the deadline. In that case, contact the DWP complaints team with evidence of the error and request a late claim be considered.

If you cannot claim One Family Payment, check whether you are may have access to to other support: Child Benefit (no time limit), Child Tax Credit (if your income is below the threshold), or local council grants for new parents (these vary by area and are often run by children's centres).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I claim One Family Payment if I am not the biological parent?

Yes, if you are the child's legal guardian or the person named as the main carer on the adoption or guardianship order. You must provide the relevant court order or adoption certificate as proof. If the child was born to unmarried parents and only one is named on the birth certificate, only that person can claim unless a parental order or guardianship has been issued.

What if I claimed but never received the money?

Contact the DWP immediately with your claim reference number. Ask whether the payment was processed and, if so, which account it was sent to. If the money was sent to an old bank account, the DWP may be able to recall it or reissue it to your current account. If the claim was never processed, ask why and resubmit with all documents.

Do I have to pay tax on the £500?

No. One Family Payment is not taxable income and does not need to be reported to HMRC. It will not appear on your tax return or affect your tax code.

Can I claim for more than one child at the same time?

Yes. If you have had twins, triplets, or more children, you can claim £500 for each child. Submit one form SF100 per child, or ask the DWP whether you can list multiple children on a single form. Each claim must be made within three months of each child's birth or adoption.

What if my partner and I both want to claim?

Only one person can receive One Family Payment per child. Decide between you who the main carer is, and that person should claim. If you cannot agree, the DWP will ask for evidence of who is the primary carer (for example, who is named on the child benefit claim or the adoption papers) and will pay that person only.