Women in Wales who are more than 10 weeks pregnant or people with young children may be entitled to help to buy healthy food and milk, but thousands aren’t claiming their entitlement.
Healthy Start is an NHS scheme that provides eligible people with a card with money on it that can be used in some UK shops. They will add the benefit onto the card every 4 weeks, and could amount to up to £442.
The card can be used to buy:
- plain liquid cow’s milk
- fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables
- fresh, dried, and tinned pulses
- infant formula milk based on cow’s milk
The card can also be used to collect:
- Healthy Start vitamins – these support you during pregnancy and breastfeeding
- vitamin drops for babies and young children – these are suitable from birth to 4 years old
Scroll down for key facts and details on how to apply.
How to apply
Applying online
If you get Universal Credit, you can apply online if:
- you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have at least one child under 4 years old
- your family’s monthly ‘take-home pay’ (also called ‘earned income’) is £408 or less from employment
If you get Child Tax Credit, you may be eligible for Healthy Start if:
- your family’s annual income is £16,190 or less
- you do not get Working Tax Credit
Most people who get Child Tax Credit can apply online. You can apply online if you’re either:
- more than 10 weeks pregnant and have children under the age of 4
- not pregnant but have children under the age of 4
If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant and have other children who are all aged 4 or older, you’ll need to apply by email or phone.
To apply online, you’ll need your:
- name
- address
- date of birth
- National Insurance number
- baby’s due date (if you’re pregnant)
- benefit award letter if you’re over 18 – make sure you enter the exact details shown on your benefit award letter
To apply online, click here.
Applying by email or phone
You can apply by email or phone if you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant, or have at least one child under 4 years old, and get either:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Pension Credit (which includes the child addition)
You can also apply by email or phone if you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant and either:
- under 18 years old and not getting any benefits
- getting Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
If you get Child Tax Credit, you’ll need to apply by email or phone if you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant and have other children who are all aged 4 or older.
You can apply by either:
- emailing healthy.start@nhsbsa.nhs.uk
- calling 0300 330 7010
Phone lines are open 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday (except public holidays).
If you’re not a British citizen but your child is
You might be eligible for Healthy Start depending on your immigration status.
You can get Healthy Start if all the following are true:
- you have at least 1 British child under 4 years old – check if your child is automatically a British citizen (opens in a new tab) if you’re not sure
- your family earns £408 or less per month after tax
- you cannot claim ‘public funds’ (opens in a new tab) (for example, benefits) – either because of your immigration status or because you do not have an immigration status
Your biometric residence permit (BRP) or your online immigration status (opens in a new tab) will say if you cannot claim public funds. You might also have a letter from the Home Office about it.
To apply for Healthy Start, ask for an application form via email. Only use this email address (Healthystartclaim@dhsc.gov.uk) if you think you cannot claim public funds because of your immigration status.
About Healthy Start vitamins
People on the NHS Healthy Start scheme are entitled to free Healthy Start vitamins.
Healthy Start vitamins are available to pregnant and breastfeeding people, people with a child under 1 year old, and children under the age of 4. Healthy Start vitamins provide the correct amount of vitamins recommended by the government. They contain:
- vitamins A, C and D for children aged from birth to 4 years old
- folic acid, vitamin C and vitamin D for pregnant people, breastfeeding people, and people with a child under 1 year old
Healthy Start vitamins are important because:
- 8% of children under 5 in the UK do not have enough vitamin A in their diet
- families in lower-income groups tend to have less vitamin C in their diet
- all pregnant people, breastfeeding people and young children are at risk of vitamin D deficiency (teenagers, younger adults and those from ethnic minorities are particularly at risk)
Find out more information about taking vitamins on the NHS website (opens in a new tab).
Find out more about Healthy Start vitamins.
Key Facts
How much will I get for my children?
- £4.25 each week of your pregnancy (from the 10th week of your pregnancy)
- £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 after your child’s 4th birthday, or if you no longer receive benefits.
You can also get free Healthy Start vitamins.
I’m under 18 and not on benefits. Do I qualify?
If you’re under 18 and more than 10 weeks pregnant, you qualify for Healthy Start until your baby is born. You do not need to receive any of the qualifying benefits or be getting tax credits. To apply, you need to call us on 0300 330 7010 and provide:
- your baby’s due date
- a copy of your birth certificate
- your NHS number
- your National Insurance number
Find out about call charges (opens in a new tab).
After your baby is born, you will only continue to qualify for Healthy Start if you get the qualifying benefits or tax credits. To make sure you continue to receive Healthy Start vouchers once your baby is born, you should:
- call us on 0300 330 7010
- apply for Child Tax Credits as soon as you can
- inform Universal Credit by updating your online account
- reapply online and make a new claim
If you do not do this, your payment will stop 4 weeks after your baby’s due date.
I get Working Tax Credit. Do I qualify?
If you, your partner, or your carer get Working Tax Credit (WTC), you do not qualify for Healthy Start unless you’re under 18 and pregnant or you’re only getting the WTC 4 week run-on. WTC run-on is what you receive in the 4 weeks immediately after you have stopped working for 16 hours or more per week.
I’m unable to register my child’s birth, will I still get my payment?
You should speak to HMRC or DWP to ensure your child is included on your benefit claim so that your payment can be issued.
If you’re on Universal Credit you also need to phone us on 0300 330 7010 and tell us your baby’s name and date of birth. Without this, your payments may stop and you will need to reapply.