Get help to buy food and milk on the NHS Healthy Start Scheme

Those in low-income households and pregnant women currently in receipt of 'NHS Healthy Start' vouchers need to actively apply for a new prepaid card to receive their payments from Thursday 10 March.

The voucher scheme helps people with the cost of healthy food and milk. Eligible low-income households and expectant mothers can get £4.25 a week, or £8.50 a week for a family with a child under the age of four to pay for items such as fruit, vegetables, milk and tinned pulses. You can also get vitamins if you present the card at any of the hubs below. 

Until now, Healthy Start has posted paper vouchers to people in four-week batches. The vouchers can be used in shops that have registered with the Healthy Start scheme and recipients have 12 weeks to spend them. But the scheme will issue the last paper vouchers between 24 February and 10 March - although you can continue to use them until the expiry date. 

In order to continue receiving the Healthy Start payments, any current recipients or new beneficiaries need to register for the new prepaid card which will be automatically updated with the £4.25 (or £8.50) each week.

However some 3,000 eligible Redbridge residents still haven’t registered for the new card, and they need to do so by Thursday 10 March to avoid missing out on payments. Prepaid card payments will only be backdated to the date you apply. To avoid losing out on payments in between your vouchers ending and your prepaid card arriving it is important that you reapply as soon as possible. 

How to apply

If you're already signed up for Healthy Start vouchers, you should have already been contacted with details on how to apply for a card.

Those eligible for Healthy Start should be receiving Child Tax Credit, Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Pension Credit, or Universal Credit.

You can apply online now for the new prepaid card please visit:NHS Healthy Start website and follow these instructions:

• Cards need to be activated before use. How to do so will be explained in a letter you get with your card. 
• Money stays on the card for 16 weeks. Any cash unused after 16 weeks is returned to Healthy Start.
• The new card can be used in most shops that accept Mastercard. This includes supermarkets, convenience stores, markets, and newsagents. You can only use the card in-store though - not online. 
• The card is contactless and there's no minimum spend. Though you will need to enter your PIN the first time you use it and on certain transactions after this. The card can also be used as proof of entitlement when collecting free Healthy Start vitamins. 
• You can check your card balance for free at a cash machine. Though you can't use it to withdraw cash. You can check your balance by calling Healthy Start's phone number on 0300 330 2090. Calls are charged at local rates, so check how much your mobile or landline provider charges for these (many get them free with call plans).  

For information or support on completing your Healthy Start application call NHSE on 0300 330 2090 or visit any of the hubs below or your local children centre:

Loxford and Cranbrook Hub
Loxford Polyclinic
417 Ilford Lane
Ilford
IG1 2SN
Tel: 0300 300 1579 option 1

Seven Kings Hub
Seven Kings Health Centre
1 Salisbury Road
Seven Kings
IG3 8BG
Tel: 0300 300 1579 option 2

Fairlop Hub
Hainault Health Centre
Manford Way
Chigwell
IG7 4DF
Tel: 0300 300 1579 option 3

Wanstead and Woodford Hub
South Woodford Health Centre
114 High Road
South Woodford
E18 2QS
Tel; 0300 300 1579 option 4