The NHS Healthy Start scheme helps families and those who are pregnant to access healthy food, milk and vitamins (for you and vitamin drops for babies and children up the age of four years).
If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or you have children under four and receive Universal Credit or are on a low income (of less than £408 a month), you could be eligible.
How does the scheme work?
People apply for the scheme online and get a prepaid card, which can be used in most places that sell eligible healthy food (fruit, vegetables, pulses) and milk and infant formula items. The card is topped up every four weeks with their payments.
Once on the scheme, people will get:-
- £4.65 each week of their pregnancy (after the 10th week of pregnancy)
- £9.30 each week for children from birth to one year old
- £4.65 each week for children between one and four years old
The payments will stop when the child turns four or if they no longer receive a qualifying benefit.
Who is eligible?
You can get Healthy Start if you have at least one child under four years old or are over 10 weeks pregnant.
Eligibility also depends on the benefit the person receives and what their income is.
How to apply
You can apply online at www.healthystart.nhs.uk
Other support
There’s also a range of support to families on the Knowsley Info Hub at www.knowsleyinfo.co.uk.
Families with children under 5 can find a range of information on the Start for Life pages at www.knowsleyinfo.co.uk/start-for-life.