Did you know that if you are more than 10 weeks pregnant, or have a child under the age of four, you may be entitled to get financial help to buy fruit, vegetables and milk?
As part of the NHS Healthy Start Scheme, pregnant women and families with children between the ages of 0-4 can receive financial help to buy healthy food including fruit, vegetables and milk. Eligible families can receive up to £8.50 a week for each child under the age of 1 year, and £4.25 per week for each child between the ages of 1-4 years of age. This equates to around £221 per year for a family with one child between the ages of 1 and 4 years, and £442 for a family with two children between the ages of 1 and 4!
Those who are eligible for the Healthy Start Scheme receive a card with money on it that can be used in any UK shop that accepts the MasterCard. Money is added to your card every week and can be carried over week to week.
You can use your card to buy:
- Plain liquid cow’s milk
- Fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables
- Fresh, dried, and tinned pulses
- First stage infant formula based on cow’s milk.
You can also use your card to collect:
- Healthy Start vitamins – these support you during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Vitamin drops for babies and young children – these are suitable from birth to 4 years old.
Last month in Powys, 249 people who were entitled to receive this money did not access it, leading to a monthly loss of around £18.00 for each family with one child between 1 and 4. For families with a child under 1, the monthly loss would be around £34.00.
Families with a child under 1 and a child between 1 and 4 could be losing up to £52.00 monthly, or £624 per year!
To check that you are not missing out on receiving this money, find out if you are eligible and apply for the Healthy Start Card by visiting the website:: Get help to buy food and milk (Healthy Start)
You can also ask your midwife or health visitor for more information.
For more information: https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/
