You already know that eating well is good for you and your family, and if you’re pregnant or have young children it’s all the more reason to make the effort. 

What is Healthy Start?

Healthy Start is a scheme designed to help you get more healthy food into your diet. If you’re on certain benefits and are pregnant, or have children under four, you could qualify for free vouchers which can be swapped for milk, fresh fruit, vegetables and vitamin supplements.

Am I eligible?

You qualify for Healthy Start if you’re pregnant or have a child under four years old, and you and your family get:

• Income support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Child Tax Credit (but not Working Tax Credit unless your family is receiving Working Tax Credit run-on only) and have an annual family income of below £16,040 or less (for 2009/2010).
• Income related Employment and Support Allowance

OR:

• You’re pregnant and under 18 years old.

To find out if you qualify, and how much you might get, go to the Healthy Start web site.

If you’re 25 weeks pregnant or more you could qualify for an additional one-off, tax free payment called the Health in Pregnancy Grant. Find out more here.

How much can I get?

If you qualify, you can get a voucher each week after your 10th week of pregnancy. You could get:

• £3.10 a week if you’re pregnant
• £6.20 a week for each baby aged under one
• £3.10 a week for each child aged over one and under four

What can I spend the vouchers on?

You can spend Healthy Start vouchers on a mixture of:

• Milk
• Fresh fruit and vegetables
• Infant formula milk

You can also get free vitamin supplements. They're usually available from NHS clinics and health centres but your midwife or health visitor will be able to advise on local arrangements.

How do I apply?

Ask your midwife, health visitor or other health professional for an application form. Alternatively you can:

• Request a form by calling 0845 607 6823
• Download a copy or apply online at www.healthystart.nhs.uk

Where can I use the vouchers?

Lots of places take Healthy Start vouchers, including milkmen, greengrocers, market stalls, chemists, corner shops and supermarkets.

• Look out for the Healthy Start stickers in shop windows, or ask inside.
• Find a shop near you by using the postcode finder on the Healthy Start website

For information about Healthy Start and other benefits go to Directgov.

For more information about eating well in pregnancy, click here.