Can I Even Afford a Baby? How Do I Raise a Kid on a Tight Budget?
💵 Pregnant and Worried About Money? — Quiz
- Feeling financially stretched can be overwhelming. Adding an unintended pregnancy would raise the question of how to afford a baby under these circumstances.
- Even when the pregnancy was planned, money concerns may arise. Inflated societal expectations may make it difficult to discern the baby's actual needs and how to meet them.
- Raising a child is a valuable service to society but is not without financial sacrifice. Therefore, the government provides financial relief to single mothers and families whose income often decreases while their expenses increase.
Did you just find out you are pregnant, and now wonder whether you can afford a baby? This article gives an overview of where to apply if you are pregnant and need money.
Pregnant and Worried About Money — Quiz
Pregnant and stressed about finances? Answer three multiple-choice questions about your situation and receive an immediate professional assessment on your screen.
Money for Pregnant Mothers
Financial concerns are natural when expecting a baby. Raising a child takes time and money. Calculating the cost is a sign of maturity and foresight, proving that you are mindful of your responsibilities. But what if money is already tight? Help is available! We have compiled a list of how to get free money for pregnant moms-to-be.
Click on your country in the chart below. This is your benefits guide, categorized in alphabetical order. Each financial help is briefly described, and amounts are posted where applicable. Each link leads to an external site, so you can start the application process.
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United States of America:
If you are pregnant and need help with money in the US, these are the benefits you can apply for:
Where to Start:
The extensive list of resources can be overwhelming. First, go to your local Medicaid office. Here you can apply for several of the resources listed below.Child Care
- Childcare Resource and Referral Service
- Child Care Assistance Program
- Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF)
Child Support
- Paternity needs to be established for the mother to receive child support.
Food
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known as food stamps, provides debit cards to low-income and no-income families to purchase groceries.
- Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program provides food vouchers for you while you are pregnant and your baby after birth.
- Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
Housing
- HUD Public Housing Assistance Program (Section 8), Housing Choice Voucher Program, Foreclosure Prevention.
- Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) helps with delinquent mortgage payments .
Insurance
- Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP): low-cost health and dental insurance
- Medicaid: health coverage for pregnant women and families with inadequate or no health insurance
Living Expenses
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps pay electricity and gas bills.
- Lifeline Assistance Program: Free mobile phone service and reduced internet cost
Newborn Payment
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program provides financial aid during the last three months of pregnancy and after birth.
Tax Benefits
- Child Tax Credit ($2000 per child per year)
Unemployment Benefits
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United Kingdom:
If you are pregnant and need help with money in the UK, these are the benefits you can apply for:
Child Care
- Childcare grants cover 85% of your costs, paying up to £148.75 per week if you are in training/education.
- Childcare element of working tax credit: up to £122.50 per week for one child (70% of £175) or up to £210 per week for more than one child (70% of £300).
- Find daycare and find out if you can get help with childcare costs.
Child support
- Prenatal: If the biological father receives an income, he is obligated to help pay for the mother’s pregnancy expenses, including maternity clothes and vitamins.
- If able, both parents must contribute to the cost of raising their child until the child turns 19. The parent who does not live with the child usually pays child support.
Disabled Child
- Disability Living Allowance is £24.45 to £156.90 per week when caring for a disabled child.
- Child Disability Payment (Scotland) of £64.50
Food
- Healthy Start (Best Start in Scotland) helps you receive nutritious food.
Housing
- Social Housing (NI) or Council Housing (GB)
- Housing Benefit (Universal Credit is replacing this)
Living Expenses
- Child Benefit of £21.80 for the first child and £14.45 for any additional children.
- Universal Credit of £265.31 per month for under 25-year-olds and £334.91 per month for over 25-year-olds.
Newborn Payment
- Sure Start Maternity Grant gives you £500 start-up money for baby equipment.
- Or Pregnancy and Baby Payment (Scotland) of up to £642.35.
Parental Leave
- Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP): You are eligible if your weekly earnings exceed £123. You would receive 90% of your regular pay for the first six weeks. For the next 33, you would receive up to 90% of your average income, not exceeding £156.66.
- Maternity Allowance is for women who are working but cannot receive statutory maternity pay. This payment is given for up to 39 weeks. The amount is equal to Statutory Maternity Pay.
- Paternity Pay and Leave of 90% of pay, up to £156.66 for 1–2 weeks
- Shared Parental Leave and Pay of up to a combined 50 weeks’ leave and 37 weeks of pay. The amount is 90% of the parent’s salary for up to £156.66 per week.
- Extra Maternity Benefit is paid when the baby is premature. Here, the weeks between the birth and the beginning of scheduled maternity leave are covered at 90% of average pay.
Tax Benefits
- Council Tax Reduction: This substantial reduction varies according to location. Ask your local council for details.
- Child Tax Credit is income dependent and is paid until your child turns 16 or completes their education.
- Working Tax Credit for single parents who work at least 16 hours a week.
- 30-Hour Element: Extra tax credit for single parents who work at least 30 hours a week.
Unemployment
- Jobseekers’ Allowance is £61.05 per week for under 25-year-olds and £77.00 for over 25-year-olds.
Republic of Ireland:
If you are pregnant and need help with money in Ireland, these are the benefits you can apply for:
Child Care
- Universal Childcare Subsidy pays €0.50 per hour.
Child Support
- Usually, the father of your child is financially responsible for paying child maintenance.
Housing
- Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is replacing Rent Supplement. The goal of this payment is to make rent affordable.
- Local Authority and Social Housing
Living Expenses
- Child Benefit €140 per month
- One Parent Family Payment of €40 per week.
- Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA1): €206
- Working Family Payment amounts to 60% of the difference between your actual income and the income limit set by the government.
Parental Leave
- Maternity Benefit is for women on maternity leave who have paid into the system. You would receive €250 per week for 26 weeks.
- Parents’ Benefit of €250 per week for up to 5 weeks
- Paternity Benefit of €250 per week for two weeks
- Extra Maternity Benefit is paid when the baby is premature. Here, the weeks between the birth and the beginning of scheduled maternity leave are covered at €250 per week.
Unemployment
- Jobseeker’s Benefit is between €93.30 and €162.90 per week with an additional €40 per child under 12.
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Canada:
If you are pregnant and need help with money in Canada, these are the benefits you can apply for:
Child Care
- Universal Childcare Benefit: $100 per month
- Childcare Subsidy
Child Support
- Usually, the father of your child is financially responsible for its upbringing by paying child support.
Disabled Child
- Child Disability Benefits $224.58 per month
Food
Living Expenses
- Automated Benefits Application: use this link or make your application on your child's birth registration.
- Canada Child Benefit of up to $541.33 per month
- Child and Family Benefits Calculator tells you how much you are due (up to $CAN 6,833 per child annually).
- Social Assistance/Basic Income Assistance/Emergency Benefit for single parents over 16: up to $974.00 monthly.
Tax Benefits
- Sales Tax Credit: quarterly payment
Unemployment Benefits
- You may be eligible for unemployment benefits.
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Australia:
If you are pregnant and need help with money in Australia, these are the benefits you can apply for:
Child Care
- Child Care Subsidy — to help pay for approved child care costs.
- Additional Child Care Subsidy (aka JET Child Care Fee Assistance, Grandparent Subsidy, Transition to Work Subsidy, Temporary Financial Hardship Subsidy, Child Wellbeing Subsidy): one hundred hours of care is paid per fortnight.
Child Support
- In most cases, the child's father is obligated to pay child support.
Disabled Child
- Carer Payment: up to $987.60 per fortnight if you care for a disabled child.
Housing
- Rent Assistance gives you extra help if you rent privately.
- Social Housing (conduct a web search for your state)
Living Expenses
- One-off Cost of living payment of $250.
- Centrelink – Parenting Payment (also known as Single Parent Benefit, Single Mothers Pension, or Big Pay) A maximum fortnightly payment of $880.20 helps with the costs of caring for children. It is paid to the primary caregiver of a child.
- Energy Supplement
- Centrelink – Telephone Allowance helps with telephone and home internet service costs.
- Affordable Connectivity Program: Help with internet bills and the purchase of a laptop computer.
- Youth Allowance: You can claim this benefit if you are 24 or under and studying, or under 22 and looking for work or unable to work. Eligible youth will receive up to $679 per fortnight.
- Single Income Family Supplement: Up to $300 per year
- Crisis Payment for Extreme Circumstances: Four one-off payments are possible per year. Each payment is equal to one week’s worth of AUStudy.
Newborn Payment
- Newborn Upfront Payment: A one-off payment of $575 per child.
- Newborn Supplement: You may be eligible for up to $1,725.36 for the first 13 weeks of your baby’s life.
Parental Leave
- Parental Leave Pay for working women who want to take up to 18 weeks off after their baby is born. You can receive $772.55 per week. This period can be chosen immediately after giving birth or after taking maternity leave or vacation time.
- Dad and Partner pay: Payment of $772.55 per week for up to two weeks while taking care of your child.
Tax Benefits
- Family Tax Benefit Part A. Your family’s taxable income must be under $80,000. The maximum amount for a baby is $191.24 per fortnight.
- Family Tax Part A Supplement: Up to $788.40 per child per year.
- Family Tax Benefit Part B is for single moms or one-income families.
Unemployment
- Jobseeker Payment: You must be over 22 to receive this payment of up to $691 per fortnight.
You can also call the Families and Parents line @ 13 61 50
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New Zealand:
If you are pregnant and need help with money in New Zealand, these are the benefits you can apply for:
Childcare
- Childcare Subsidy helps with preschool childcare. You would receive approx. $5.60 per hour.
Child Support
- In most cases, the parent not living with his child must pay child support.
Disabled Child
- Child Disability Allowance: $106 per fortnight to cover extra expenses related to caring for a disabled child.
Food
Housing
- Public Housing
- Emergency Housing is free for the first week. After that, you pay 25% of your income for rent.
Living Expenses
- Sole Parent Support up to $512.00 weekly while you look for a job or get ready for employment.
- Community Services Card provides a discount on public transportation and healthcare costs.
Newborn Payment
- Best Start payments are $60 per week for the first year. Payments may be extended by another two years.
Parental Leave
- Paid Parental Leave pays for 26 weeks starting at or before birth. The maximum weekly payment is $661.12
- Preterm Baby Parental Leave Payment is paid from the time the baby is born until the calculated 36th week of pregnancy. The payment is equal to the Paid Parental Leave payment.
Tax Benefits
- Working for Families Tax Credit Payment, including Family Tax Credit and In-Work Tax Credit. Weekly entitlement could be around $689.00.
- Rates Rebates up to $665 off your rates bill
Unemployment Benefits
- If you cannot work during your pregnancy, you may be able to claim unemployment benefits.
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South Africa:
If you are pregnant and need help with money in South Africa, these are the benefits you can apply for:
Child Support
- The father of your baby is obligated to pay child maintenance. The amount for one child is 12% of his gross income. He pays 16% for two children and 19% for three children.
Disabled Child
- Care Dependency Grant is given to parents raising disabled children. R1 980 is provided per month.
Food
- SASSA Grocery Voucher for up to 6 months
Housing
- FLISP Government house subsidy: up to R168.853 to buy a house
- Social Housing Company and National Association of Social Housing Organizations
Living Expenses
- SASSA Child Support Grant: R460 per month.
- SASSA Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant: You are eligible to apply if you are over 18 and not receiving other grants.
Unemployment
- Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) provides payment when missing work during maternity and parenting.
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Austria:
- See our Austrian page: Finanzielle Hilfen
Germany:
- See our German page: Schwanger – was steht mir zu?
Italy:
- See our Italian page: Cosa mi spetta in gravidanza?
Portugal:
- See our Portuguese page: Ajuda financeira para grávidas e mães
Switzerland:
- See our Swiss page: Finanzielle Hilfen
ℹ️ Note! While Profemina reviews the following information annually, we cannot guarantee its accuracy.
Are you looking for information specific to your age group?
- Financial Support for Pregnant Teens
- Financial Support for Pregnant Students
- Pregnant During Apprenticeship
- Pregnant on a Fixed-Term Contract
He Is Worried about Money
The baby's dad is often the one who is most concerned about the financial situation. Your partner may be skeptical about whether you both can afford a baby right now. This usually stems from his desire to provide well for his family. He wants as much certainty as possible that he will be able to give the baby everything it needs.
*Name was changed to protect her identity. Find out how Celine's story turned out by scrolling down to the next quote.
Of course, you and your partner know that your baby will need one thing above all: loving care. The care you provide for your baby is ultimately the most important thing. But at the same time, you are aware of necessary purchases, such as a car seat and diapers, and future needs, such as school fees. When focusing on the total expenses of a lifetime, they can loom large in a parent's mind.
We frequently hear from single moms and couples that their worries about the future were resolved once they sat down and calmly sought solutions. Over time, they often gained a new perspective, realizing that their judgment had been clouded by fear. In time, everything became manageable.
Some financial stress is temporary, such as completing an education, starting a new business, or paying off debt. Seek the support you need so you can remain worry-free. You don't have to shoulder everything on your own. You and your baby deserve the best help possible.
- 🧔🏻 How Do I respond if he wants me to get an abortion? — Quiz
- 🙎🏻♂️Acknowledging Paternity — How to navigate issues with the dad (test)
- Do I Need to Name the Father to Receive Support?
Pregnant and worried about finances? Creating an action plan, financial counseling, outside support, and creativity all work together to set you up for success.
Tips and Hacks for Debt-Free Parenting
If you are pregnant and financially stretched, there are several steps you can take—some that make an immediate difference and others that can provide long-term relief.
Get an Overview of Your Situation: You can start by creating a list of all your income and expenses. You might find that things are not as bad as they seem. You can also download a list from the web to make sure you don’t miss anything 😊
Reach Out to Government Agencies: Find out about government benefits available to pregnant women and mothers/families. For more details, click here.
- Look for Local Support Organizations: Charitable organizations offer assistance to pregnant women and families, such as networking and providing baby gear, diapers, and formula. For more information, go to Support Near Me
Ask Your Employer: When you inform your boss about your pregnancy, ask about possible benefits, such as maternity leave or family benefits.
Find Ways to Save: Review your expenses and see where to cut back. You don't need to keep up with everything that is trending. With creativity, you can find many great solutions, such as buying things second-hand, car-sharing, or going to food banks.
Seek Financial Counseling: A debt counseling center or financial advisor can help you overcome your financial woes.
Learn About Child Support Payments: If you will have sole custody, perhaps because the child’s father does not live with you, he is required to pay child support. Government agencies can help you calculate and enforce child support payments and may provide you with an advance.
Connect with Other Moms in Your Area: Are there other women in a similar situation? Team up! Baby items can often be passed along, and you can save on babysitting costs if you watch the kids for each other 😉
Pregnant and Needing a Place to Live
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- Is this a pressing need, or can we make do for a while and take our time to find something suitable?
- Could we temporarily stay with friends or family if necessary?
- Could we use our current space more creatively? (Partition, loft bed, etc.?
- Could friends or family help us with renovations or finding a new place?
- Can I expand my search radius to find something cheaper?
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- Create a housing search ad online.
- Put up notices at community centers, churches, or even your local supermarket.
- Check social networks (Facebook, Instagram…).
- Ask your friends to keep an eye out.
- Contact local real estate agents.
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- USA: Section 8 Housing / Housing Choice Voucher Program
- Great Britain: Council Housing and Housing Benefit
- Northern Ireland: Social housing
- Republic of Ireland: Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), Rent Supplement, and Local Authority and Social Housing
- Canada: Affordable Housing Program and Housing Allowance and Rent Supplement
- Australia: Rent Assistance
- New Zealand: Public Housing and Rates Rebates
- South Africa: Social Housing Company, National Association of Social Housing Organizations, and FLISP Government house subsidy
In time, a suitable space will hopefully become available.
Questions or Concerns?
Perhaps you are looking at this page because you are pregnant and struggling financially. Maybe you are pregnant and broke and wondering whether having a baby is financially feasible. Hopefully, the information on this page addressed many of your monetary concerns, helping you to breathe a little easier.
You may be wondering how Celine*'s story continued:
Maybe you can identify with Celine*, but your questions go beyond financial cares? Many women deal with multiple layers of worries, and we want to ensure that each one is addressed.
Your concerns matter because you matter!
Our free digital coaching resources were created with your situation in mind. You can access them 24/7. Why not give them a try?
- 💪 You have what it takes! Take the Strengths Finder Test
- 👥 What is my pregnancy personality? Take the Quiz
- ⚖️ Should I get an abortion? Take the Abortion Test
