If you are more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under four, you could be eligible for this scheme and receive money towards food and milk.
What is Healthy Start?
You may be eligible for the Healthy Start scheme if you are more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child or children under the age of four. Through the scheme you will get a pre-paid card which will be topped up with money every four weeks and can be used to buy:
fresh or frozen fruit and vegetables (whole or chopped, packaged or loose - with no added ingredients)
fresh, dried and tinned beans and pulses
plain cow's milk (whole, semi-skimmed or skimmed)
infant formula milk
Healthy Start pre-paid card
The pre-paid card can be used in any shop that sells healthy food and milk and accepts Mastercard. This includes:
supermarkets
your local shop
pharmacies or chemists
markets
petrol stations
The card cannot be used for online shopping or to request cashback. It is for in-store use only.
You can check your balance in any cash machine using the PIN provided with your card, like a normal bank card, or by calling Healthy Start on 0300 330 7010.
Healthy Start vitamins
You can also get free Healthy Start vitamins. There are two types of vitamins available:
women's vitamins, which are used to support you during pregnancy and breastfeeding
vitamin drops for babies and young children - these are suitable from birth to four years old
You can pick up your Healthy Start vitamins at the following children and family hubs and local libraries, listed below:
Children and family hubs
Vitamins can also be bought at the hubs for cost price by families that do not qualify for the Healthy Start scheme. Women's vitamins cost £1 and children's drops cost £1.50. Cash payments only.
Briercliffe children and family hub, Scarborough
Colburn children and family hub, Colburn
Selby North children and family hub, Selby
Whitby children and family hub, Whitby
Atmosphere children and families hub, Pickering
Norton children and families hub, Malton
Bilton children and families hub, Harrogate
Knaresborough children and families hub, Knaresborough
These hubs are open Monday to Thursday from 8.30am to 5pm, and Friday from 8.30am to 4.30pm. For further information and contact details, please visit our Children and family hubs page.
Women and children’s vitamins can be collected free if in receipt of the Healthy Start Card at the venues below. Please note the following venues do not sell vitamins.
Your family must also get at least one of the following:
Income Support
Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Child Tax Credit with a family income of £16,190 or less per year
Pension Credit
Universal Credit with no earned income or total earned income of £408 or less per month for the family (to find this information look at your Universal Credit award notice in the section 'your take home pay for this month')
