Best Start Foods - Scotland - Can I get Best Start Foods?
Best Start Foods is a Scottish government scheme to help pregnant people and young children afford healthy food.
- Last reviewed 24 February 2024
Can I get Best Start Foods?
You can only get Best Start Foods if you live in Scotland.
If you’re over 20
You can get Best Start Foods if you are pregnant or are a parent of a child under 3 (if you were already getting Healthy Start vouchers before you claimed Best Start Foods, you may be able to get Best Start Foods until your child is 4) and you are getting one of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- Income related Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
- Income based Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit, without Working Tax Credit (if you (and your partner) earn less than £18,725 per year)
- Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit (if you (and your partner) earn less than £8,717 per year)
- Housing Benefit (if you (and your partner) earn less than £358 per week)
- Universal Credit (if you (and your partner) earn less than £726 per month)
You may be able to get Best Start Foods if you cannot claim benefits because of your immigration status and you are on a low income. Find out more about claiming Best Start Foods if you have no recourse to public funds.
If you’re under 18
You do not need to be on any payments or benefits to get Best Start Foods.
If you’re 18 or 19 and do not get benefits
You do not need If you're 18 or 19 and do not get any benefits or payments, you can still apply for Best Start Foods. Your parent or carer needs to get one of these for you:
- Child Tax Credit
- Child Benefit
- Universal Credit child payments
- the child addition part of Pension Credit
When you apply, you’ll need to enter your parent or carer’s details in the form.
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