NHS Healthy Start Scheme

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The NHS Healthy Start scheme helps families on low incomes to buy healthy food and milk.

If a woman is more than 10 weeks pregnant or a family has children under four and you receive certain benefits, you could be eligible for Healthy Start.

Once on the scheme, you will receive a prepaid card, which you can use to buy fruit, vegetables, pulses, milk and infant formula. Since April 2026, these payments have increased and families will now receive:

  • £4.65 each week of pregnancy (after the 10th week of pregnancy)

  • £9.30 each week for children from birth to one year old

  • £4.65 each week for children between one and four years old

The card will be topped up with payments every four weeks and you can use it in most places that sell healthy food and accept Mastercard® payments.

You can also get free Healthy Start vitamins.

Visit www.healthystart.nhs.uk to find out if they are eligible and apply online.