Since the start of April, there have been a number of changes to the NHS’s Healthy Start scheme.

Healthy Start - help with milk, food and vitamins

Healthy Start helps women who are pregnant or have young children and are receiving benefits, buy foods such as milk or fruit. It can also be used vitamins to support mums during pregnancy and breastfeeding and for vitamin drops for babies and young children.

Anyone who is pregnant or who has parental responsibility for at least one child under the age of 4 and is receiving one of the qualifying benefits can apply for a Healthy Start card.

Success applicants will receive £4.25 each week from the 10^th week of their pregnancy, £8.50 each week for children from birth to one year old and £4.25 each week for children between one and four years old.

You can use this link to apply online now for the NHS Healthy Start card.

April Changes

The new number to call for queries about Healthy Start cards is now 0118 338 5810. This replaces the 0300 330 2090 telephone number.

Although it ended on 5th April, people who were on Child Tax Credit could still be eligible for NHS Healthy Start payments if they move to Universal Credit and have a monthly take-home pay of £408 or less.

To continue receiving NHS Healthy Start payments, they need to apply for Universal Credit  within 16 weeks of their Child Tax Credit ending.

When making their Universal Credit claim, they need to make sure all their children under four are listed as dependants and verified on the claim.

You can find out how to apply for Universal Credit here.

Using your Healthy Start card to make contactless payment

One you have a Healthy Start card it will be topped up with the amount you are due every four weeks.

You can use the Healthy Start card to buy certain types of milk, infant formula, fruit and vegetables. You can also use the card to get free vitamins.

Healthy Start cards can be used to make  contactless payments in a wide range of places, as long as they accept Mastercard®. These include supermarkets and convenience stores, food shops and grocery stores, markets, pharmacies and newsagents and petrol stations.

Apply online now for the NHS Healthy Start card.