How to get infant formula for free at supermarkets including Aldi and Asda

PRICES are rising but there are schemes to help you buy essentials, including baby formula.

Healthy Start is one of them and offers up to £442 a year to those on low incomes to help cover the cost of milk, fruit and veg.

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Vouchers can be used at most major supermarkets including Aldi and Asda.

Tesco, Iceland, Sainsbury’s and Lidl also accept them, as do other smaller shops across the country.

You can get the help if you’re pregnant or have young children and are claiming certain benefits.

That includes Universal Credit, child tax credit, employment support allowance and jobseeker’s allowance, though some income limits apply.

Each voucher is worth £4.25 per week, and you can get two each week if you have a child under the age of one, so that can add up to £442 a year.

The Healthy Start scheme is designed to help families cover the cost of healthy food for their kids.

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You can use them to buy milk or infant formula based on cow’s milk, food and vitamins.

Many people are not aware of the scheme and Iceland has said it will put labels on all it’s milk to remind people, saying Could you get this milk for free?” on 81 million bottles. 

Here we explain how the Healthy Start scheme works, who can get the help and how to claim.

Who can get Healthy Start Scheme vouchers?

You can get the help if you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under the age of four.

You’ll need to be claiming one of the following benefits to qualify.

• Child Tax Credit and an annual income of less than £16,190
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit and income of £408 or less per month from employment

You’ll also need to be in England, Wales or Northern Ireland – in Scotland there’s a different scheme offering similar help called Best Start Foods.

Anyone aged under 18 can get the help without claiming benefits.

What can I use Healthy Start vouchers for?

You can use Healthy Start vouchers to buy a variety of items:

• cow’s milk
• fresh, frozen or tinned fruit and vegetables
• infant formula milk
• fresh, dried, and tinned pulses

If you’re using it for formula it must be infant formula labelled “suitable from birth” the NHS website says, which can be used to feed babies up to 12 months.

You can’t use it to buy follow on milk, but you can buy cows milk which is suitable for young children after 12 months.

And you can use the vouhcers to get vitamins too.

How much are Healthy Start vouchers worth?

Each healthy start voucher is currently worth £4.25 a week, and over a year that adds up to £221.

It’s worth double that if you have a child under the age of one as you’ll be eligible for two vouchers each week.

Where can I use Healthy Start vouchers?

You can now use the Healthy Start vouchers as any location where Mastercard is accepted.

That’s because a recent change to the scheme means the help comes in the form of a prepaid card.

Previously it was paper vouchers which could be used at a wide variety of locations, but not all local shops, supermarkets or pharmacists for vitamins.

As long as they usually accept Mastercard, you can use the card at:

• supermarkets
• convenience stores
• grocery stores
• drug stores and pharmacies
• markets
• dairy products stores
• butcher shops
• petrol stations

You can’t use the prepaid card for online shopping, or to withdraw the cash from an ATM.

But you can use an ATM to check the balance on the card, or call 0300 330 7010, but phone charges can apply.

The money is added to the card automatically every four weeks.

How do I apply for Healthy Start vouchers?

You can apply for the Healthy Start scheme online on the government website.

You can also print out a paper form from the Heathy Start website here or you can request one from your GP or midwife.

Alternatively, you can request one from the Healthy Start helpline on 0345 607 6823.

To apply, you will need your:

• name
• address
• date of birth
• National Insurance number
• baby’s due date (if you’re pregnant)
• benefit award letter if you’re over 18

If you already receive the vouchers, you need to sign up for the prepaid card system.

You must switch to the digital scheme by March 10 to continue receiving the benefit and avoid payment delays.

You could get extra cash from your local council to help with food and bills but you need to act fast as many Household Support Fund schemes are closing soon.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk