Healthy Start
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If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk.
If you’re eligible, you’ll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in some UK shops. We’ll add your benefit onto this card every 4 weeks.
You can use your card to buy:
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plain liquid cow’s milk
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fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables
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fresh, dried, and tinned pulses
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infant formula milk based on cow’s milk
You can also use your card to collect:
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Healthy Start vitamins – these support you during pregnancy and breastfeeding
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Vitamin drops for babies and young children – these are suitable from birth to 4 years old
Eligibility criteria and how to apply
Applying online
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
Please note, the details you use to apply for Healthy Start must match the details on your Universal Credit claim.
To apply visit How to apply – Get help to buy food and milk (Healthy Start)
Applying by phone or email
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)
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0300 330 7010
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
- your family earns £408 or less per month after tax
- you cannot claim ‘public funds’ (for example, benefits) – either because of your immigration status or because you do not have an immigration status
To apply for Healthy Start, ask for an application form via email. Only use this email address if you think you cannot claim public funds because of your immigration status.
Further information
For more information please see the leaflet, or call 0300 330 7010.