Healthy Start is a government scheme that provides financial support to pregnant women and families with children under the age of four who are on certain qualifying benefits. It was updated in 2021 to move from paper vouchers to a prepaid Healthy Start card, which is loaded automatically each week and can be used at most major supermarkets and some pharmacies.
It is one of the benefits that a significant number of eligible families do not claim, often because they have not heard of it or are not sure whether they qualify. The application is straightforward and the financial support, while modest, is meaningful for families already on a tight budget.
Who is eligible?
Pregnant women and families with children under four who receive any of the following are eligible: Universal Credit with a net earning of £408 or less per month in an assessment period, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Child Tax Credit (with no Working Tax Credit and with an annual income of £16,190 or less), or are under 18 and pregnant, regardless of benefits received.
How much is the benefit worth?
As of 2025, the weekly amounts are £4.25 for pregnant women, £8.50 for families with a baby under one year old, and £4.25 for families with a child aged between one and four. The card is loaded automatically each week. These amounts are relatively modest but cumulative: a family with a baby under one year old receives around £442 per year through the scheme, entirely in addition to other entitlements.
What can the card be used for?
The Healthy Start card can be used to buy plain cow's milk, fresh, frozen and tinned fruit and vegetables, fresh, dried and tinned pulses, and infant formula milk. It cannot be used to buy ready meals, confectionery, or anything outside these categories. Most major UK supermarkets accept the card including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons, Lidl, Aldi and others. Some pharmacies also accept it for infant formula.
How to apply
Applications are made online at the NHS Healthy Start website. You will need your NHS number and details of your qualifying benefit. If you are pregnant, you will also need details from your midwife or GP confirming the pregnancy. The card is sent by post after your application is approved. If you think you may be eligible, applying as soon as possible means you start receiving the benefit immediately rather than losing weeks of support.
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Ask Fin provides general guidance only. Healthy Start eligibility rules and amounts may change. Check current details at healthystart.nhs.uk.