Healthy Start: Help to buy food and milk for your family
Pregnant women and families with children under four years old who are also receiving income support may be eligible for a Healthy Start prepaid card.
You could receive £8.50 per week if you have a baby aged under one year, £4.25 per week if you are pregnant, and £4.25 for each child aged under 4 years old.
The Healthy Start card can be used to buy milk, fresh, tinned or frozen fruit and vegetables (without any additives), fresh, dried and tinned beans and pulses, and infant formula.
To check if you qualify and to apply for a Healthy Start prepaid card, please go to the Healthy Start website. If you are unable to apply online, phone the National Healthy Start team on 0300 330 7010 (please note this is not a free phone number and you will be charged).
To apply you will need to provide:
- name
- address
- date of birth
- National Insurance number
- baby's due date (if you are pregnant)
If you don't know your National Insurance number, the Government has some information here on how to find a lost National Insurance number.
What support could I receive?
See below for the types of support available and who is eligible:
Vitamins (women's vitamins and/or children's vitamins drops)
- pregnant women aged under 18
- pregnant women aged 18 and over
- parents with babies aged under 1 year
- parents with children aged between 1 and 4 years
Healthy Start Prepaid card (£4.25 per week)
(if also receiving income support)
- pregnant women aged under 18*
- pregnant women aged 18 and over
- parents with children aged between 1 and 4 years
Healthy Start Prepaid card (£8.50 per week)
(if also receiving income support)
- parents with babies aged under 1 year
*Pregnant women under 18 are eligible for a Healthy Start prepaid card, whether or not they are receiving income support.
Healthy Start Leaflet
Important information for any families currently receiving Healthy Start vouchers
Are you currently receiving Healthy Start vouchers?
Healthy Start is changing - it is moving from vouchers to a prepaid card.
You need to reapply online or by telephone now to continue to receive Healthy Start payments. If you don't reapply for a prepaid card, you will stop receiving Healthy Start vouchers from 1 April 2022.
To reapply please visit www.healthystart.nhs.uk/how-to-apply.
If you are unable to apply online, you can also reapply by calling the National Healthy Start Team on 0300 330 7010.
Further support: You can contact your local children's centre if you need further support in reapplying for a Healthy Start prepaid card.
Families with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has agreed to temporarily extend the Healthy Start scheme to people who meet all of the following criteria:
- have parental responsibility for at least one British child who is less than 4 years old
- have a family take-home pay of less than £408 per month
- are excluded from claiming public funds due to a current (or lack of) immigration status
Please note this temporary extension does not include pregnant women.
NRPF families can apply to Healthy Start by requesting an application form from healthystartclaim@dhsc.gov.uk.
To apply, parents/carer will need to provide copies of:
- their passport/Home Office reference number or case ID (if known)
- proof of address
- child's or children's birth certificate/s
- bank statement
If you do not have a bank statement, please provide documents that demonstrate you meet the financial criteria. The Healthy Start Team will contact you as soon as possible if they require further information to help process the application.
There may not be one set of documents that evidence the eligibility criteria. Please contact healthystartclaim@dhsc.gov.uk in you have any questions.