- Summary
- Who is entitled?
- How to claim
- How are the vouchers used?
- Advice for Health Professionals
- Advice for Retailers / Suppliers
Healthy Start replaced the Welfare Foods Scheme (free milk and vitamins)
from November 2006. Healthy Start enables eligible pregnant women and families with young children on
certain benefits or tax credits to get vouchers that can be used towards the purchase of milk, fresh
fruit and vegetables or infant formula.
You are entitled to Healthy Start Vouchers if
1. you are pregnant or have a child
under 4 years of age and you or your family are entitled to:
- Income Support or
- Jobseekers Allowance (income based) or
- Child Tax Credit (but not Working Tax Credit) with an annual family income of £14,495 or less (2007/08 rates).
or
2. you are pregnant and under the age
of 18.:
An application leaflet "HS01 - A healthy start for pregnant women
and young children" can be obtained by telephoning 08701 555455. Alternatively a copy of
the form can be downloaded from www.healthystart.nhs.uk/
Part B of the form must be completed by your Health Professional. If
Part B is not completed and signed, the application will not be accepted.
You should then send the completed form to:
Healthy Start Issuing Unit
Freepost ANG 2037
Chelmsford
CM1 3BR
Freepost ANG 2037
Chelmsford
CM1 3BR
The scheme provides free vouchers that can be put towards the cost of:
- milk;
- fresh fruit;
- fresh vegetables; and
- infant formula milk (not follow on or soya formula).
The vouchers are worth:
- £2.80 per week if pregnant;
- £5.60 per week for each baby aged under one; or
- £2.80 per week for each child aged over one and under four years of age.
Healthy Start Vouchers can be used at any shop displaying a Healthy
Start window sticker. This includes all major supermarkets as well as many chemists, greengrocers,
convenience stores and milk roundsmen. A search of participating shops by postcode can be done
on the Healthy Start Website at www.healthystart.nhs.uk/
or
by contacting the Healthy
Start helpline on 0845 6076823.
Health Professionals can obtain advice relating to the Healthy Start
Scheme on the Healthy Start website: www.healthystart.nhs.uk/
Existing and prospecvtive retailers and suppliers can obtain advice
relating to the Healthy Start Scheme on the Healthy Start website: www.healthystart.nhs.uk/

