Healthy Start Card
Healthy Start Card
Healthy Start helps pregnant women and families with children aged 3 and under to buy milk, fruit, vegetables, and infant formula.
If you are receiving income support, the Healthy Start Card could give you:
- £8.50 per week if you have a baby under one years old
- £4.25 per week if you are pregnant
- £4.25 for each child aged age 3 and under.
This can add up to a huge help over the year. For example, if you’re pregnant with two children under 4, you could receive up to £900 a year to buy food for your family. Or, if you just have one child, you could receive around £220 to spend on healthy food a year.
You will get an automatic weekly top-up on your card, which you can use in shops that accept Mastercard.
Healthy eating is important for you and your family. Good nutrition decreases the risk of complication in pregnancy, helps you maintain a healthy weight, which also decreases the risk of long-term conditions and diseases in later life.
For more information and to apply for Healthy Start, please visit www.healthystart.nhs.uk.
Support with applying
If you need support with your application, please contact Family Support or visit the Family Support Surgery at your local Children’s Centre.
Who to contact
- Website
- Healthy Start
- Scan to visit this website
Other Details
- Free of charge.
- Referral Details
To apply for a Healthy Start Card, visit: Get help to buy food and milk (Healthy Start)
- Other notes
Who is this service for?
- Women under 18 years old who are at least 10 weeks pregnant
- Women who are at least 10 weeks pregnant and families with children aged 3 and under who receive the following benefits
- Universal credit (and family’s monthly ‘take-home pay is £408 or less from employment)
- Child tax credit (if family’s annual income is £16,190 or less)
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Pension Credit (which includes the child addition)
- Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for 4 weeks if your working hours, or your partner or carer’s, go to less than 16 hours per week)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
If you’re not a British citizen but your child is, you may also be able to receive a Healthy Start Card. To find out more on whether you are entitled to a Healthy Start Card, visit www.healthystart.nhs.uk/how-to-apply
Your local Bright Start Health Visiting Team is here to provide support and advice on infant nutrition and feeding and building a relationship with your baby. Visit their webpage to find out more.
You will also be entitled to free vitamins – find out more. Find Your Islington | Healthy Start - Free Vitamins
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