Healthy Start Card and Vouchers in 2022: how to get this benefit

The Healthy Start scheme is commonly known for issuing vouchers for a pregnant individual to buy foods and supplements for them and their child. However, the benefit is now issued through a prepaid card, with the same eligibility and conditions. This Your Benefits will walk you through everything you need to know to receive this benefit. This is for both Healthy Start vouchers and the Healthy start card and vouchers.

What is the Healthy Start scheme?

You may be eligible for the Healthy Start scheme if you are pregnant or have a child under 4 years old. You must also be already receiving one of the qualifying benefits. This does not apply if you are under 18 years old, however. More details below.

The previous version of the benefit was in the form of Healthy Start vouchers, which you could swap for various items healthy for you or your baby. However, this version of the benefit ends in early 2022. You may use both in a multitude of shops in the UK. 

How much is the healthy start card?

The Healthy Start card is a card that can be used to spend on milk and healthy foods for you and your baby. Here is a list of items you are able to buy with it:

• Plain liquid cow’s milk;
• Fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables;
• Fresh, dried, and tinned pulses;
• Infant formula milk base on cow’s milk.

As said above, the items you are able to collect are not limited to foods meant to be consumed by your baby. Here are additional items you will be able to collect (for free) with your card:

• Healthy Start Vitamins, to help during pregnancy and breastfeeding;
• Vitamin drops, for babies and young children from birth up until 4 years old.

No amount of money will be taken from your card. You may pick these free vitamins up from a nearby vitamin distributor.

You may use your prepaid card in a variety of places. This includes:

• Supermarkets;
• Convenience stores;
• Grocery stores;
• Drug stores and pharmacies;
• Markets;
• Dairy product stores;
• News dealers and newsstands;
• Freezer and locker meat provisioners (like butcher shops);
• Petrol stations.

Eligible shops take Mastercard®. They will usually display a Mastercard® logo if this is the case. You may also ask an employee if you are unsure.

What are Healthy Start vouchers?

If you are over 18 years old and stop receiving benefits, or if your child turns 4 years old, you will no longer get Healthy Start vouchers payments. The previous version of the scheme consisted of paper vouchers of a value of £4.25 to spend on various items. This includes:

• Cow’s milk;
• Fresh, frozen or tinned fruit and vegetables;
• Infant formula milk;
• Fresh, dried and tinned pulses.

Frequently asked questions include if you can claim this benefit. This scheme ends in early 2022. You may apply before the scheme ends. In England and Wales, you can ask a midwife or health visitor, or any other health professional

Healthy Start vouchers eligibility

You may apply for the Healthy Start scheme if you are more than 10 weeks pregnant or currently have a child under 4 years old. You would then be able to receive help buying healthy food or milk, as well as collect other supplements for you and your child for free.

If you already receive Healthy Start in the form of vouchers, you will be contacted when you are able to apply for the digital form of the benefit (the card). The Healthy Start vouchers scheme ends in early 2022.

What do my conditions need to be?

On top of being at least 10 weeks pregnant or have at least one child under 4 years old, other conditions need to apply. You must be receiving at least one of the following benefits:

• Child Tax Credit (if the annual income of your family is £16,190 or less);
• Income Support;
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance;
• Pension Credit (including the child addition);
• Universal credit (if the take-home pay of your family from employment is £408 or less per month).

Are you unsure if, while claiming Universal Credit, your family earns £408 or less per month from employment? To find out, take your Universal Credit award notice, and look at your ‘take-home pay for this period on it’. It should indicate the amount you are looking for.

Additionally, you might still be eligible if one of these more specific situations apply to you:

• You are under 18 years old and pregnant (you are eligible even if not currently receiving any benefits);
• You receive income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and are more than 10 weeks pregnant;
• Either you, your partner or carer receives Working Tax Credit run-on only after having reported that you are currently working 16 hours or less weekly.

For example, if you are 17 years old, 15 weeks pregnant and do not receive any benefits, you are eligible for the Healthy Start card.

Am I eligible for the if I am not a British citizen?

You may be eligible for the Healthy Start scheme even if you are not a British citizen. In this situation, all of the following conditions must apply to your situation:

• You have at least 1 British child that is also under 4 years old;
• The income of your family is £408 or less after tax;
• You do not have access to ‘public funds’ (this means that you do not have access to things like benefits. This is likely impacted by your immigration status, or lack of an immigration status).

If you are unsure whether or not you have access to public funds, you may check in one of two ways. First, through your biometric residence permit (BRP). The information should be indicated on your card.

Second, on your online immigration status. Your form will indicate if you cannot claim public funds. You might have a letter from the Home Office with this information as well.

Apply for Healthy Start card

If you believe that you are eligible for the Healthy Start scheme and wish to apply, you may do so online. Your will need the following information, your:

• Name;
• Address;
• Date of birth;
• National Insurance number;
• Baby’s due date (if pregnant);
• Benefit award letter (if you are above 18 years old).

You may also get an application form from your ‘health visitor’ (specialist community public health nurses, (SCPHN) registered midwives or nurses). You may also receive a form from the Healthy Start helpline (0345 607 6823).

Finally, if you wish to receive Healthy Start vouchers, you may ask for an application form via email. However, this is discouraged. Only do so if you believe that you are not eligible for public funds because of your immigration status and require this digital service. The email address to contact is the following: Healthystartclaim@dhsc.gov.uk