Healthy Start Vouchers

You may be entitled to free milk, fresh fruit and vegetables, infant formula and vitamins under the Healthy Start scheme.

You may qualify if you’re pregnant and/or have at least one child under four years old and your family gets any of the following:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Child Tax Credit (but not Working Tax Credit, unless your family is receiving Working Tax credit run-on only) with an annual family income of £16,040 or less (for 2009 to 2010)

You may also qualify if you are pregnant and under 18 years old.

Please note - 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.

You may be able to get vouchers worth £3.10 each that can be spent on milk, fresh fruit and vegetables or infant formula. Pregnant women and children over one and under four years old get one voucher a week; children under one year get two vouchers a week.

You can also get free vitamin supplements. They are usually available from NHS clinics and health centres, but your midwife or health visitor will be able to offer advice on local arrangements.

Further information

You will need to complete an application form to claim the Healthy Start vouchers. Your midwife, health visitor or registered doctor or nurse will need to sign it.

You can request a Healthy Start application form by calling 0845 607 6823 and quoting reference HS01.

Alternatively, you can complete an application form or download a copy on the Healthy Start website.