Healthy Start

What is Healthy Start?

Healthy Start is a national scheme that aims to help improve the health of pregnant women and families on benefits and low incomes. If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk.

Am I eligible for the Healthy Start Scheme?

You will need to be in receipt of one of the following:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (only applicable whilst you are more than 10 weeks pregnant. Once the child is born you no longer qualify under this benefit)
• Child Tax Credit with a family income of £16,190 or less per year
• Pension Credit; or
• Universal Credit with no earned income or total earned income of £408 or less per month for the family.
• You are also eligible if you are under 18 and pregnant.

Check to see if you are eligible

Applying for Healthy Start is easy – you can find the application form online. You can do this yourself or ask a health professional to help you. If you do not have online access you can apply over the telephone 0300 330 7010 or for any enquires, email healthy.start@nhsbsa.nhs.uk.

If you’re eligible, you’ll be sent a card that will be topped up every 4 weeks, you can use it in some UK shops.

What can I buy?

You can use your card to buy:

• fresh, frozen or tinned fruit and vegetables
• plain cow’s milk – this can be pasteurised, sterilised, long-life or ultra-heat treated (UHT)
• fresh, dried or tinned pulses
• infant formula based on cow’s milk – this should be suitable from birth

How much will I receive?

You’ll get:

• £4.25 each week of your pregnancy from the 10th week
• £8.50 each week for children from birth to 1 year old
• £4.25 each week for children between 1 and 4 years old

Your money will stop when your child is 4 years old, or if you do not get benefits that make you eligible.

You also use the card to get free vitamins that are specifically designed for pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under four. Your midwife, health visiting team or a member of your local Family Help team can help you apply for Healthy Start.

What are vitamins?

Vitamins are essential nutrients that your body needs in small amounts to work properly. You get most vitamins from a healthy balanced diet, but at certain times in your life – like when you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, you might need to boost your vitamin intake by taking a supplement to make sure you get everything you need.

What’s in the vitamin tablets and why are they important?

Healthy Start children’s vitamin drops contain:

• Vitamin A, which is important for growth, being able to see in dim light and for healthy skin
• Vitamin C, which helps maintain healthy tissue in the body
• Vitamin D, which you need for strong bones and teeth

Healthy Start vitamins are HMC approved, meaning they are suitable for vegetarians and halal diets, and are also free from milk, egg, gluten, soya and peanut residues, so you can take them even if you’re allergic to these products.

Find your local healthy start vitamins services here.

Want to know more?

I am pregnant or a parent- visit the Healthy Start website

I am a Health Professional-download the Professionals Tool Kit