Unclaimed: Families miss out on free food vouchers worth up to £350,000
HEALTHY: A dish you could have for free. Picture credit: Anna Pelzer
By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor
Families in East Yorkshire are missing out on thousands of pounds of financial support to help them buy healthy food.
The “Healthy Start” voucher scheme was introduced to help people buy fruit and vegetables, milk and claim free vitamins from ten weeks into pregnancy or until their child is four.
However, between £250,000 and £350,000 is going unclaimed every year in Hull alone because people don’t realise they’re entitled to the support.
Joanna Melia, public health specialist midwife at NHS Humber Health Partnership, said: “Eating and drinking healthily during pregnancy means you’re giving your baby a great start to life while looking after your own health.
“These vouchers are a great way of paying for healthy fruit, vegetables, pulses and milk and I’d encourage everyone entitled to the benefit to claim it.”
People on Universal Credit can apply for the “Healthy Start” voucher scheme when they are more than ten weeks pregnant or have a child under four.
Those entitled to the benefit will be sent a Healthy Start card preloaded with money that can be used in shops, with the entitlement renewed every four weeks.
You can use your card to buy:
plain cow’s milk
fresh, frozen and tinned fruit and vegetables
fresh, dried and tinned pulses
infant formula milk based on cow’s milk
You can also use your card to collect:
Healthy Start vitamins – these support you during pregnancy and breastfeeding
vitamin drops for babies and young children – these are suitable from birth to four years old
You’ll get money added onto your Healthy Start card every four weeks. You'll receive:
£4.25 each week of your pregnancy (from the 10th week of your pregnancy)
£8.50 each week for children from birth to one year-old
£4.25 each week for children between one and four years old
Your money will stop after your child’s fourth birthday or if you no longer receive benefits. If you’re pregnant and under 18, you can claim even if you do not receive any benefits.
Visit the NHS Healthy Start website for more information or to apply.