HUNDREDS of thousands of households are missing out on up to £442 in free food vouchers.
More than 215,000 people are missing out on the support, which is part of the Healthy Start Scheme.
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Families eligible for help through the scheme now get prepaid cards to spend at a range of supermarkets and shops, replacing vouchers.
Healthy Start offers money to low-income families with small children to help pay for milk, vegetables, fruit and more.
But thousands of people who are eligigble for the cash aren’t claiming.
Last year, the Local Government Association (LGA) urged government to start a campaign to promote the Healthy Start Scheme.
The Healthy Start scheme offers out prepaid food cards to women who are more than 10 weeks pregnant or women or men who have children under four.
They typically must also be on certain benefits, including:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Child Tax Credit with a family income of £16,190 or less per year
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit with no earned income or total earned income of £408 or less per month for the family.
However, if you are under 18 and pregnant you can get the money, even if you don’t receive any of the above benefits.
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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, so it’s up to £442.
There used to be paper vouchers, but that’s just been replaced by a prepaid card, so you’ll get the amounts added to that instead automatically every four weeks.
You can use the healthy start prepaid card at any location where Mastercard is accepted.
Previously, paper vouchers could be used at a wide variety of stores, but not all local shops, supermarkets or pharmacists for vitamins.
As long as the shop accepts 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 cash from an ATM, but you can check the balance at a cash machine.
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
And you can use the vouchers to get vitamins too.
How do I claim 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 Healthy Start website 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)
- Venefit award letter if you’re over 18
Once you’ve applied online, you should receive your card within five to 10 working days.
Recently, we found out from a supermarket expert how you can get your weekly shop cheaper in every aisle.
We also revealed the cheapest supermarket in the country – and it’s not what you expect.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]
