Are there any benefits available for twins?
While there aren’t currently any specific payments for families expecting twins, you could still be eligible for an assortment of benefits, grants, and schemes.
Child Benefit
If you’re responsible for a child up to the age of 16 – or 20 if they’re in full time education or training – you’ll usually be eligible to receive Child Benefit.
There’s no upper limit on how many children you can claim for, although please note that only one parent can claim Child Benefit. If you earn over a certain amount, you may have to pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge – you can read more about this here.
Child Benefit provides a set amount of money per child, which you’ll usually get every 4 weeks. For your eldest or only child, you’ll get £25.60 a week. You’ll get £16.95 per week for each additional child.
To find out more about Child Benefit and make a claim, please visit the Gov.uk website.
The Sure Start Maternity Grant
If you’re expecting your first child or a multiple birth (for example, twins), and you or your partner are in receipt of certain benefits, you could be eligible for a Sure Start Maternity Grant.
This one-off payment of £500 does not have to be repaid, but please be aware that the Sure Start Maternity Grant must be claimed within 11 weeks of your due date or up to six months after the birth.
If you live in Scotland…
Unfortunately, you won’t be eligible for a Sure Start Maternity Grant if you live in Scotland, although you could receive a Pregnancy and Baby Payment instead. You can find out more here.
How to save money when you have twins
- Work out a budget
We know this may feel like a daunting task, but it’s crucial to have an understanding of your financial situation before your twins arrive.
The first step to creating a budget is to work out your monthly income. When doing this, you should factor in your maternity pay and any applicable benefits.
Next, deduct your essential outgoings from your overall income. The money you’re left with after all your outgoings is your disposable income.
Need some help? Use MoneyHelper’s free budget planner to get you started. - Make a list of everything you need
Set some time aside to jot down everything you’re going to need for the birth and beyond. This will help to reduce the risk of overspending and buying unnecessary items.
Need some help in getting started with your baby shopping list? Made for Mums have put together this list of essential buys for twins. - Keep an eye out for buy one get one free offers
Buy one get one free offers can be a real financial lifesaver for expectant twin parents.
You could even opt to buy two, get two free.
If you spot items you use regularly on offer, you may wish to take advantage of the opportunity to save money and stock up. - Shop affordable
While many of us would love to exclusively kit our babies out in luxurious Next and John Lewis clothing, being picky about brands could really impact your budget.
You can find quality clothing at a fraction of the price of big-name staples in supermarkets, such as Asda and Tesco.
There are often good quality bargains to be found on sites and apps such as eBay and Vinted. Not everything listed is second-hand – you can filter your searches to show new items only. Some sellers on Vinted allow you to create ‘bundles’ of items for an overall reduced price, which could be something to keep in mind if you’re buying in bulk. - Join parenting clubs for discounts and offers
If you hold a Boots Advantage Card and are either pregnant or have a child under the age of 5, you can join the Boots Parenting Club for free. You’ll get free gifts at each key stage of your child’s development, as well as access to expert parenting advice and exclusive offers.
The free M&S Parent Hood group offers 10% off baby grows for a year, as well as monthly rewards. Weekly parent and baby mornings are held at M&S cafes across the UK and members of Parent Hood can bag themselves a free slice of cake, a pastry, or a fruit pot when purchasing a hot drink. Please note that at our time of writing (February 2025), this offer is only available on Tuesdays between 09:30 and 11:30 and is subject to change.In addition to the two we’ve talked about, there are plenty of other parenting clubs to take a look at, including Morrisons and Pampers. You can find out more about each in this comprehensive guide from Mother & Baby.
Further help for families expecting twins
Budgeting for one baby can be stressful enough, let alone two, or more.
If you’re worried about money, please know that you can access free, confidential advice through sites such as StepChange, MoneyHelper, Citizens Advice, and National Debtline.
The Twins Trust is a UK-based charity. According to their website, their mission is to “Provide twins, triplets or more – and their families – with the information needed to make informed decisions.”
Registering for the Twins Trust costs £3.80 a month, and grants you access to online information and tips, as well as having the opportunity to visit antenatal and parenting sessions up and down the country.
The information contained in this article is meant as a general guide and does not constitute nor should be taken as financial advice.
February 2025.