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Pregnant or have young children? You may be missing free food.

Last verified 5 Jun 2026 · Source NHS BSA + DHSC

The NHS Healthy Start scheme gives £4.25 to £8.50 a week in food vouchers to pregnant women and families with children under 4 on a low income, plus free vitamins. Around 600,000 UK families are eligible. The application takes 10 minutes online.

£4.25/wkWhile pregnant + per child 1–3
£8.50/wkFor each baby under 1
~£442/yrTypical family value
600k+UK families eligible (NHS)
How do I apply? Open Family hub

Who is eligible?

You qualify for Healthy Start in England, Wales or Northern Ireland if both of these are true:

  1. You are at least 10 weeks pregnant, OR you have a child under 4, AND
  2. You (or your partner) receive one of:
    • Universal Credit, with a household take-home pay of £408 a month or less
    • Income Support
    • Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
    • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
    • Child Tax Credit (without Working Tax Credit), with household income of £16,190 or less
    • Pension Credit (only if you have a child under 4)

Under-18 pregnant women qualify regardless of which benefits the household receives.

Scotland uses a different scheme If you live in Scotland, you apply for Best Start Foods instead, run by Social Security Scotland. Apply at mygov.scot. It is similar to Healthy Start in value.

How much you get

  • £4.25 a week from the 10th week of pregnancy until the child is 1
  • £8.50 a week for each baby under 1 year old (double, because babies need formula)
  • £4.25 a week for each child aged between 1 and 3 years old (4 years old = ends)

So a pregnant woman with a 2-year-old gets £8.50 a week (£442 a year). A family with a baby under 1 and a 3-year-old gets £12.75 a week (£663 a year).

The amount is loaded onto a Healthy Start prepaid card, which works in most UK supermarkets like a debit card.

What you can buy

The card can only be used for these specific items:

  • Plain liquid cow's milk (whole, semi-skimmed or skimmed)
  • Fresh, frozen, or tinned fruit and vegetables (without added sugar, salt, fat or flavouring)
  • Fresh, dried, or tinned pulses (such as lentils, beans, chickpeas)
  • Infant formula based on cow's milk

You cannot use it for fruit juice, sweetened products, or other foods. Most supermarket tills automatically detect eligible items.

Free Healthy Start vitamins

If you're on Healthy Start you also get free vitamins:

  • Pregnant and breastfeeding women — vitamin tablets with folic acid, vitamin C and vitamin D
  • Babies and young children (from birth to 4 years) — vitamin drops with A, C and D

Available from your local NHS clinic, midwife or by post. Some pharmacies also stock them.

How to apply

Claim it now — free

Have ready: your National Insurance number, your due date if pregnant, and details of any children under 4. Takes about 10 minutes.

  1. Go to healthystart.nhs.uk and click "Apply".
  2. You'll need: your National Insurance number, your due date if pregnant, and details of any children under 4.
  3. Application takes about 10 minutes.
  4. If approved, the prepaid card arrives in the post within 2–3 weeks. The first £4.25 or £8.50 is loaded straight away; further amounts are loaded every 4 weeks.

If you can't apply online, call the Healthy Start helpline on 0300 330 7010.

What else you may qualify for

If you qualify for Healthy Start, check whether you also qualify for:

  • Sure Start Maternity Grant — one-off £500 (£1,000 in Scotland under Best Start Grant) for new babies
  • Child Benefit — not means-tested up to £60k income, paid to anyone with a child
  • Free school meals when your child starts primary school
  • 30 free childcare hours for 3-4 year olds in England
  • Tax-Free Childcare — £2,000/yr per child for working parents
  • School uniform grant from many councils — check your council's website

Healthy Start — common questions

Who is eligible for Healthy Start?

You qualify if you are at least 10 weeks pregnant OR have a child under 4, AND you (or your partner) receive Universal Credit with a take-home pay of £408 or less, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related ESA, Child Tax Credit without Working Tax Credit (household income under £16,190), or Pension Credit. Under-18 pregnant women qualify regardless of benefits.

How much is Healthy Start worth?

£4.25 a week during pregnancy, £8.50 a week for each baby under 1, and £4.25 a week for each child aged 1 to 3. So a pregnant woman with a 2-year-old gets £8.50 a week (£442 a year). Funds are loaded onto a prepaid card that works in most UK supermarkets.

What can I buy with Healthy Start?

Plain liquid cow's milk, fresh, frozen or tinned fruit and vegetables (without added sugar, salt, fat or flavouring), fresh, dried, tinned pulses, infant formula based on cow's milk. Also free Healthy Start vitamins.

How do I apply for Healthy Start?

Apply online at healthystart.nhs.uk. You'll need your National Insurance number, your due date if pregnant, and details of any children under 4. The application takes about 10 minutes. The prepaid card arrives in the post within 2-3 weeks if approved.

Does Healthy Start work in Scotland?

No. Scotland has a separate scheme called Best Start Foods, run by Social Security Scotland. It works similarly and you apply via mygov.scot. Northern Ireland uses Healthy Start. Wales uses Healthy Start.

Sources Healthy Start · NHS Healthy Start. Eligibility · NHS qualifying criteria. Best Start Foods (Scotland) · mygov.scot. Helpline 0300 330 7010 (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm). Last reviewed: May 2026.

Pregnant or under-4 child? Run the check.

Sorted's Family hub also covers Child Benefit, 30 free childcare hours, Tax-Free Childcare, free school meals and the school uniform grant.

Open Family hub