EXPECTANT parents or those with young children may be able to get free milk from shops and supermarkets, thanks to a health eating scheme.
The initiative also provides nourishing food for free including fruit, vegetables and pulses.
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The NHS Healthy Start scheme is available to those expecting a baby or with children under four.
You’ll also need be on selected benefits such as Universal Credit.
If you’re eligible you could get up to £442 a year for essentials to feed your family.
The scheme also provides free vitamins to mothers and children.
Here’s what you need to know…
Can I use Healthy Start?
To be accepted for Healthy Start, you’ll need to be on one of the following benefits:
- Child Tax Credit (only if your family’s annual income is £16,190 or less
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Pension Credit ( including the child addition)
- Universal Credit, if your family’s take-home pay is £408 or less per month from employment
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
However, if you’re under 18 and pregnant you can claim, even if you are not claiming any benefits.
How do I get the free food?
The funds to buy food is given through a prepaid card which can be used in any shop or supermarket that accepts Mastercard.
This includes major supermarkets such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons, as well as many smaller food shops.
The Healthy Start card is topped up every four weeks.
How much will I get?
You’ll get £4.25 each week of your pregnancy from the 10th week, £8.50 each week for children from birth to one, and £4.25 each week for children between one and four.
This works out as up to £442 worth of free food over a year.
The scheme stops when your child is four, or if you no longer receive benefits.
What can I use the card to buy?
With the funds you can buy plain cow’s milk or baby formula milk
You can also be used to buy fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables, as well as fresh, dried, and tinned pulses.
You can also use the card to get free vitamin supplements.
These are tablets for women and drops for children.
How do I get the vitamins?
Women can get Healthy Start vitamin tablets while they’re pregnant and up to their child’s 1st birthday.
Children can have free Healthy Start vitamin drops from the age of four weeks until their 4th birthday.
Children who are having 500ml or more of formula a day do not need Healthy Start vitamins.
How do I apply?
Apply for the healthy start scheme online on the government website.
You can also print out a paper form from the Heathy Start website here or ask for one from your GP or midwife.
If you can’t apply online, or you need help applying, contact NHS Healthy Start on 0300 330 7010 or by emailing [email protected]
To apply, you will need to provide some basic details such as you name and address, plus your National Insurance number and benefit award letter.
Are you missing out on benefits?
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Charity Turn2Us’ benefits calculator works out what you could get.
Entitledto’s free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto’s data.
You can use Policy in Practice’s calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you’ll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.