Are you missing out on Healthy Start? The Healthy Start Scheme provides a payment card for those on a low income to support them with the cost of healthy food, milk and provides access to free vitamins.

Families entitled to means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit, are eligible from 10 weeks of pregnancy until their child’s fourth birthday.

What you’ll receive:

£4.25 each week of your pregnancy from the 10^th 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

To find out more information on how to apply please visit: https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/

The Department of Health have also published a range of promotional material: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/articles/healthy-start-scheme

Who can apply?
You could qualify for the NHS Healthy Start scheme if you’re at least 10 weeks pregnant or you have at least one child aged under four. In addition, you must be receiving any of the following:
• Child Tax Credit (only if your family’s annual income is £16,190 or less)
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Pension Credit (which includes the child addition)
• Universal Credit (only if your family’s takehome pay is £408 or less per month from employment)

You will also be eligible for NHS Healthy Start if:
• you’re under 18 and pregnant, even if you are not claiming any benefits
• you claim income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and are over 10 weeks pregnant
• you or your partner get Working Tax Credit run-on only. (Working Tax Credit run-on is the Working Tax Credit you receive in the four weeks immediately after you have stopped working for 16 hours or more per week)