VITAMINS & FOOD VOUCHERS FOR CHILDREN
If you have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk through the Healthy Start voucher scheme.
What is the Healthy Start voucher scheme?
If you have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk.
If you’re eligible, you’ll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in UK shops. Your benefit will be added onto this card every 4 weeks.
You can use your card to buy:
- plain liquid cow’s milk
- infant formula milk
- fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables and
- fresh, dried, and tinned pulses
You can also use your card to collect:
Healthy Start Maternal vitamins – these support you during pregnancy and breastfeeding
Healthy Start vitamin drops for babies and young children – these are suitable from birth to 4 years old
To collect your free vitamins, you’ll have to show your Healthy Start card as proof of your entitlement. You can collect your vitamins from over 40 distribution centres across North & South Kirklees. Please see collection points attached or visit the link below (North Kirklees / South Kirklees) – Just enter your postcode to find your nearest pick-up point.
https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/other-services/healthy-start-vitamins/locationsearch/348
What you’ll get
- £8.50 each week for children from birth to 1
- £4.25 each week for children between 1 and 4
Your money will stop when your child is 4, or if you no longer receive benefits.
Using your card
You’ll receive your card by post. It’ll come with your first payment on it.
Money will be automatically added to your card every 4 weeks.
Before you use your card, you need to activate it before you use it in a shop.
To activate your card, get your PIN, hear your balance, or to report your card as lost, damaged, or stolen, you can contact National Healthy Start on:
Telephone: 0300 330 2090 – This phone line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you require an interpreter, you can contact us by:
Telephone: 0300 330 7010
Email: [email protected]
You’ll need your:
- card
- date of birth
- client ID (located at the top of the letter that came with your card)
Find your PIN
You need to know your PIN before you use your card in a shop.
You can find out your PIN when you call to activate your card.
If you did not give us an email address or a phone number, then you will receive a PIN in the post.
Your PIN will be sent out 2 days after your card is sent to you.
Checking your balance
You can check your balance at any cashpoint. You will need your PIN to check your balance at a cashpoint. You cannot withdraw cash.
Who can access this service?
The Healthy Start vitamin scheme provides vitamins for children under the age of 4 years. In order to qualify, you must be receiving any of the following:
- Child Tax Credit (only if your family’s annual income is £16,190 or less)
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Pension Credit (which includes the child addition)
- Universal Credit (only if your family’s take-home pay is £408 or less per month from employment)
You will also be eligible for Healthy Start vouchers if:
- you, your partner, or your carer get Working Tax Credit run-on only after you have reported you’re working 16 hours or less per week
- expectant mothers can also be eligible to receive vitamins through the Healthy Start programme. Please click here to visit the Vitamins for Expectant Mothers Page
How to access this service:
Please apply online by clicking the following link https://services.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/apply-for-healthy-start/where-you-live
Online applications take approximately 10 minutes
To apply, you will need your:
- name
- address
- date of birth
- National Insurance number
- baby’s due date (if you’re pregnant)
- benefit award letter if you’re over 18 (you must enter the same information that’s on this letter)
If you’re currently receiving paper vouchers for Healthy Start, these will stop once you complete the online application. You can still use your Healthy Start vouchers until their expiry date. You can find the expiry date printed on your vouchers.
Yorkshire Children’s Centre can provide telephone support for anyone who is unable to access the online application form. Please contact: 01484 415465
Costs
This is a free service.
Contact Details
Thriving Kirklees Service Support
Office Tel: 01484 415465
Mobile Tel: 07849398807
Email: [email protected]
Yorkshire Children’s Centre, Front of House team
Tel: 01484 519988
Email: [email protected]
National Healthy Start Team
Tel: 0300 330 2090 – This phone line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you require an interpreter, you can contact the team on: Tel: 0300 330 7010
Email: [email protected]
Thriving Kirklees Single Point of Contact
Tel: 03003045555
Email: [email protected]
“YCC have been keeping in regular contact with me and have helped me get additional support – I signed up to the Healthy Start scheme and it has made a huge difference. I just wanted to say, you’re doing a great job… You care, and in these times and previously that means the world.”