Healthy Start Food Scheme
What is Healthy Start?
The NHS Healthy Start card scheme is a national program that helps low-income families and pregnant women access healthy food. It provides a pre-paid card with monthly funds that can be used to purchase specific healthy foods and milk. Items like fresh, tinned or frozen fruit, vegetables and pulses such as lentils and beans, cow’s milk and first infant formula. The card can be used at most retailers that accept MasterCard.
Who is eligible for the Healthy Start card and how to apply?
There are three categories for how to apply for the Healthy Start card, which depend on the type of state benefit you receive.
- On Universal Credit and your household’s monthly ‘take home pay’ is £408 or less from employment. Apply online at How to apply – Get help to buy food and milk (Healthy Start)
- If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant, or have at least one child under 4 years old, and get either:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Pension Credit (which includes the child addition)
- under 18 years old and not getting any benefits
- getting Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Apply by Email healthy.start@nhsbsa.nhs.uk or by Phone: 0300 330 7010
- If you’re not a British citizen but your child is, you might be eligible for Healthy Start depending on your immigration status. You can get Healthy Start if all the following are true:
- you have at least 1 British child under 4 years old
- your family earns £408 or less per month after tax
- you cannot claim public funds (for example, benefits) – either because of your immigration status or because you do not have an immigration status
To apply ask for an application form via email. Only use this email address if you think you cannot claim public funds because of your immigration status. Healthystartclaim@dhsc.gov.uk
What do you get?
You will get money added onto your card every four weeks to spend on certain food and milk.
£4.25 each week of your pregnancy from the 10th week
£8.50 each week for children from birth to 1 year old
£4.25 each week for children between 1 to 4 years old
Your money will stop when your child is 4 years old, or if you do not get benefits that
make your eligible.
What Can You Use It For?
You can use your Healthy Start Card to buy:
- Plain fresh or frozen fruit and vegetables
- Cow’s milk
- Infant formula
- Pulses (dried or tinned)
You can also get free vitamins from Newham Council – including folic acid, vitamin C, and vitamin D. You can visit the Healthy Start Vitamins page for more information
Health Start pre-paid MasterCard
If you are eligible, you’ll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in supermarkets and other grocery stores. Top up payments will be deposited into your Healthy Start card on a monthly basis. You can check the balance each month at a cash machine point.
Where can you use your Healthy Start Card?
You can use your card in most places that sell mil, infant formula, fruit and vegetables. This includes:
- supermarkets
- convenience stores
- grocery stores
- drug stores and pharmacies
- markets
- dairy products stores
- new dealers and newsstands
- freezer and locker meat provisioners (such as butchers' shops)
- petrol stations.
They must display a Mastercard® symbol. The symbol is normally shown on the shop door or at the till. Ask an employee inside the shop if they take Mastercard if you’re unsure.
If you try and spend money elsewhere, the card will be declined. For example, you cannot use your card at a fast-food restaurant.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Healthy Start Card?
The Healthy Start Card is a prepaid card given to eligible families. It’s topped up every 4 weeks and can be used to buy healthy food, milk, and infant formula.
How much money will I get?
Depending on your circumstances, you could get:
- £4.25 per week if you’re pregnant (from 10 weeks)
- £8.50 per week for each baby under 1
- £4.25 per week for each child aged 1 to 4
This adds up to as much as £280 a year per child.
What can I buy with the card?
You can use your card to buy:
- Cow’s milk
- Infant formula
- Fresh, frozen or tinned fruit and vegetables
- Pulses (like lentils, beans, chickpeas)
It can only be used in stores that accept Mastercard and sell these items.
Can I use the card online?
No, the Healthy Start Card must be used in person at shops that accept Mastercard and sell eligible food items.
Do I need to reapply every year?
No. If you remain eligible, your payments will continue automatically until your child turns 4. You must tell the NHS if your circumstances change.
What happens if I lose my card?
Call the Healthy Start helpline immediately:
Phone: 0300 330 7010 (Monday to Friday, 8am–6pm)
Can I still get free vitamins?
Yes! You can collect free Healthy Start vitamins from local Children’s Centres and Maternity team within Newham University Hospital. Ask your midwife or health visitor for more info.
