Healthy Start Scheme - England, Wales, Northern Ireland - What is Healthy Start Scheme?
If you are pregnant or have a child under four years old and live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, you could get help from Healthy Start Scheme to buy some basic foods.
- Last reviewed 22 August 2023
What is Healthy Start Scheme?
There is a different scheme in Scotland. If you live in Scotland, read our guide on Best Start Foods - Scotland.
Healthy Start scheme helps with buying healthy foods.
This scheme is for pregnant people and people who are responsible for children aged under 4.
If you’re eligible, you will be given a Healthy Start card with money added onto it. You will be able to use your card to buy:
- plain liquid cow’s milk
- fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables
- fresh, dried, and tinned pulses
- infant formula milk
You can also get free vitamins. Ask your midwife or health visitor where to get your free vitamins or check online who stocks Healthy Start vitamins in your local area. If you live in Northern Ireland and eligible for Healthy Start, you will be sent a letter explaining how to request your free vitamins.
Applies to: England, Northern Ireland and Wales
Age Rules: There are no specific age rules
Type of benefit: Non Eligibility depends on the amount of income and capital you have. See full definition .
However, in some cases you will need to be eligible for a Eligibility depends on the amount of income and capital you have. See full definition in order to qualify.
Administered by: National Health Service (NHS)
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Healthy Start Scheme - England, Wales, Northern Ireland - Am I eligible for Healthy Start Scheme?
If you are pregnant or have a child under four years old and live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, you could get help from Healthy Start Scheme to buy some basic foods.
- Last reviewed 08 April 2024
Am I eligible for Healthy Start Scheme?
You can get help from Healthy Start Scheme and vitamins if you are more than ten weeks pregnant, or have a child under four, and you are getting:
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Universal Credit if your family's monthly earned income is £408 or less from employment.
- Pension Credit
You also qualify for Healthy Start Scheme if you are not getting one of these benefits yourself but:
- You are under 18 and more than ten weeks pregnant, or
- You live with your partner and your partner gets the benefit, or
- You are the dependent child of someone who is getting the benefit, or
- You have a British citizen child aged under 4, have no recourse to public funds, and your household has earnings of less than £408 per month.
Once you have had your baby, you can still get help from Healthy Start Scheme and vitamins for any child up to the age of 4, as long as you still meet one of the conditions listed above.
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Healthy Start Scheme - England, Wales, Northern Ireland - How much will I get from Healthy Start Scheme?
If you are pregnant or have a child under four years old and live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, you could get help from Healthy Start Vouchers to buy some basic foods.
- Last reviewed 08 April 2024
How much will I get from Healthy Start Scheme?
You get money added on your Healthy Start card worth:
- £4.25 a week if you are pregnant (from the tenth week of your pregnancy)
- £8.50 a week for each baby aged under one
- £4.25 a week for each child aged over one but under four.
How will I get help from Healthy Start Scheme?
You’ll get your Healthy Start card by post with your first payment on it and instructions on how to activate and use it. You will get money added onto this card every 4 weeks. The card can be used in most places that sell milk, infant formula, fruit and vegetables.
Healthy Start Scheme and other benefits
Money added on your Healthy Start card will not count as income when working out your entitlement to other benefits.
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Healthy Start Scheme - England, Wales, Northern Ireland - How do I claim Healthy Start Scheme?
If you are pregnant or have a child under four years old and live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, you could get help from Healthy Start Scheme to buy some basic foods.
- Last reviewed 22 August 2023
How do I claim Healthy Start Scheme?
Some people can apply online and some will need to apply by email or phone. This depends on what benefits you claim. Find more about how to apply for Healthy Start Scheme.
Talk to your doctor, health visitor, midwife or other health care professional about claiming vitamins.
When will my Healthy Start claim begin?
If you’re eligible, you’ll get your card by post within 5 to 10 working days. It may take longer than this if NHS is getting a high volume of applications.
Your claim will begin from the date the claim is received. Claims cannot be backdated.
Change of circumstances
If your circumstances change you should inform the Healthy Start Scheme. Payments will not continue to be added to your card if you do not meet the qualifying conditions.
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