Healthy Start: 1 in 3 eligible Wirral families could be missing out
The Healthy Start Scheme helps eligible pregnant women and parents of young children buy fruit, vegetables, pulses, milk, first infant formula and also provides free vitamins. But in Wirral, up to a third of families may be eligible but are not claiming the money.
Under the scheme, infants under the age of one are entitled to a weekly payment of £8.50, while pregnant women and children under the age pf four are entitled to £4.25 per week. Although the weekly amount may seem small, it adds up to around £1,200 per child (up to the age of four).
Cllr Julie McManus, Chair of Wirral’s Adult Social Care and Health committee, said:
When it comes to family finances, every little helps. The Healthy Start Scheme supports families in small payments that, over time, really do add up.
Last year, local families missed out on a total of £348,000* which could have been spent on food, milk and vitamins.
If you’re eligible, it’s definitely worth signing up to scheme to buy those essential items for you and your family. Not only could you nourish your family but you could also give a much-needed financial boost to your weekly shop.
Once a family applies online and is confirmed as being eligible, Healthy Start will then send them a pre-paid credit card, which has money automatically added to it monthly. Any money unspent in that week ‘rolls over’ to the next month and the cards can be used anywhere which accepts Mastercard (most major shops and supermarkets). The card can also be used to pick up free Healthy Start vitamins from local collection points.
For those aged over 18 who are at least 10 weeks pregnant and/or parent of at least one child aged under four years old, you may be eligible if you are receiving any of the following benefits:
- Child Tax Credit (but only if your family’s annual income is £16,190 or less)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit (but only if your family earns £408 or less per month from employment)
Residents can check their eligibility and fill in the online form here: https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/how-to-apply/.
Anyone who is under 18 and at least 10 weeks pregnant can get Healthy Start, regardless of their income, but they need to apply in a different way by emailing healthy.start@nhsbsa.nhs.uk.
Some families who have no recourse to public funds may also be eligible and they also should apply by emailing this address: healthystartclaim@dhsc.gov.uk.
