Families with children aged four and under can apply for Healthy Start vouchers

Parents and carers of young children may be entitled to receive Healthy Start vouchers.

The Healthy Start scheme provides up to £24.80 a month per child under the age of one, and £12.40 per child aged between one and four years. The vouchers can be used for fresh or frozen fruit and vegetables, as well as milk and infant formula. Recipients also receive vouchers for vitamins designed for children and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Rachel Roberts, Head of early help at Hull City Council said: “The take up of the scheme is currently only 58 percent of those that are eligible, so we know there are others families in the city that could benefit. I encourage parents and carers with young children to consider if they are eligible.”

Families qualify for Healthy Start if they are at least 10 weeks pregnant, or have a child under four years old and the family receives at least one of the following:

• 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; or
• Universal Credit with no earned income or total earned income of £408 or less per month for the family.

Women under the age of 18 and who are pregnant are also eligible, even without receiving an of the above benefits.

Apply to the Healthy Start scheme here.