Healthy Start Scheme
There are over 2000 eligible families in Newham who are missing out on payments to buy vegetables, fruit, legume/lentils/beans and milk.
*If you are an existing Healthy Start beneficiary on the paper voucher scheme, you must apply for the digital scheme. If you do not, you will stop receiving payments. Find out more information on our Changes for existing Healthy Start beneficiaries page.
What is the Healthy Start Scheme?
Pregnant women and families with children under the age of 4 may be eligible for help to buy healthy food and milk if they are on certain benefits.
Under 18 and pregnant will qualify even if they don’t receive any benefits.
For more information, please visit the healthy start website.
Applying for the Healthy Start scheme does not affect benefits your family may be receiving.
What does Healthy Start provide?
Payments worth:
- £4.25 per week for pregnant women (from 10th week of pregnancy)
- £8.50 per week for babies from birth to 1 year old
- £4.25 per week for children between 1 up to 4 years of age
You can find a full list of what you can buy on the NHS website.
How to claim
Applying is easy, but it is changing!:
In 2021, eligible families were asked to collect a free application pack, complete the form and post it back to the Healthy Start office. In 2022, there are new steps that you must follow. If you want to apply for Healthy Start, follow these steps:
- Go to www.healthystart.nhs.uk/how-to-apply
- Scroll down and click on the green button: ‘Apply now’
- Answer all of the questions
You will be asked for your name, address, date of birth and national insurance number. If you are pregnant, you will also be asked for the baby’s due date.
Once you submit your online application, the Healthy Start team will send you a prepaid card by post. To use your card, you will need to activate it. You can do this by calling 0300 330 7010. Make sure you have your card nearby, as well as your client ID (located at the top of the letter that comes with the card) and your date of birth.
When you receive the card, it will come with the first month’s pay already loaded. Your prepaid card will be topped up with money once per month.
You can use your card at shops where a card reading machine is available.
You can check your card’s balance at any cash point – you will need to know your pin number to do this.